Boris Johnson is grilled on future fines by Tom Newton Dunn
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Former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is reportedly preparing to launch his bid for leadership in the event of Mr Johnson’s exit. A high-ranking Hunt supporter has told the Mail on Sunday that “he’s definitely running” and added that “there’s a significant groundswell of support”.
It is thought Mr Hunt, who had previously admitted his desire to be leader has not “completely vanished”, will pitch himself to the public as a “safe pair of hands” after Boris Johnson’s turbulent time in Downing Street.
However, Mr Kwarteng rejected the idea of Mr Hunt becoming Tory leader and attempted to quash rumours about Mr Johnson’s future in Number 10.
Speaking the Sky News, the Brexit-backing Business Secretary said: “Well, Jeremy is a very capable colleague, he’s a great friend.
“I don’t know what he’s up to but as far as I’m concerned, Boris Johnson is the right man by far to lead us into the next election.”
Kwasi Kwarteng has backed Boris Johnson’s leadership saying ‘he’s the right man for the job’ (Image: Getty)
Boris Johnson’s leadership is allegedly ‘not under threat’ (Image: Getty)
He added: “There are lots of rumours in Westminster and I wouldn’t necessarily believe all of them.”
In the event of a challenge against the Prime Minister’s leadership of the Conservative Party, the Business Secretary gave a preview of the arguments that will be used in Johnson’s favour.
Such arguments have also already been rolled out in the Prime Minister’s defence amid the ongoing partygate rows.
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Jeremy Hunt has reportedly already rallied a team for his leadership bid (Image: Getty)
Rishi Sunak was one of the favourites to take over from Johnson but his approval ratings have fallen (Image: Getty)
Mr Kwarteng said: “I don’t think his leadership is at threat at all.
“What he’s delivered is really a remarkable series of successes.
“Brexit, he’s delivered on that.”
He continued: “I think the fact that he was very widely appreciated in Ukraine [shows] he is widely held as someone who has led the Ukrainian effort, the overseas effort to help Ukraine, and also look at the vaccine rollout, that was again a great success.”
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Some Tory MPs believe someone detached from Johnson is needed to take over the party leadership (Image: Getty)
Speaking to the Times, an MP who would support Mr Hunt’s run for leadership said: “A lot of colleagues have concluded that the party requires someone who is uncontaminated by Boris, who has experience, and who is moral.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak was favoured to take over the leadership from Mr Johnson until his chances diminished rapidly after he became embroiled in a non-dom tax scandal involving his wife, received a fixed penalty notice following Scotland Yard’s partygate investigation and introduced a 1.25 percent National Insurance tax hike.
Both Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson’s approval ratings have plummeted with the Chancellor’s at their lowest since he entered Number 11 and the Prime Minister’s net approval rating dipping to -36 percent.
