Jeremy Hunt ignored Liz Truss' call for help because he thought it was a prank
Top Tory was on holiday with his wife and children in Belgium - and it is believed he burst out laughing when he received a text message saying "Jeremy, it's Liz." Truss, please call urgently'
Jeremy Hunt on the phone (file photo) (
Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Jeremy Hunt ignored a call from Liz Truss begging him to be chancellor - because it sounded so ridiculous he thought it was a prank, it emerged today.
The former leadership candidate received the surprise nomination to replace Kwasi Kwarteng, who was sacked last Friday minutes after arriving in the UK from Washington DC.
Within days, Mr. Hunt had torn up the vast majority of Ms. Truss' mini tax cut budget and launched a quest for sweeping spending cuts to balance the books.
But it has now emerged that he rejected 'persistent' calls from an unknown number on Friday morning while on a city break with his wife Lucia and three children in Belgium.
When the caller then texted 'Jeremy, it's Liz Truss, please call urgently', the former Cabinet minister burst out laughing, the Daily Mail has revealed. A source said the account is accurate.
Eventually Ms Truss - who was using a different number to the one he had stored in his phone - ordered staff to contact his constituency office in South West Surrey.
Picture:
HOC/UNPIX)It wasn't until half an hour later that an "embarrassed" Mr. Hunt called back. He spent 10 minutes considering the offer, then called back with a "long list of conditions", including the extensive U-turn.
He took a Eurostar to London with his wife and eventually returned to their home in Pimlico in a black cab at 2.50pm.
It was only nine days after Ms Truss complained about 'anti-growth' politicians who were 'taxiing from North London townhouses to the BBC studio to fire anyone challenging the status quo'.
...
Top Tory was on holiday with his wife and children in Belgium - and it is believed he burst out laughing when he received a text message saying "Jeremy, it's Liz." Truss, please call urgently'
Jeremy Hunt on the phone (file photo) (
Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Jeremy Hunt ignored a call from Liz Truss begging him to be chancellor - because it sounded so ridiculous he thought it was a prank, it emerged today.
The former leadership candidate received the surprise nomination to replace Kwasi Kwarteng, who was sacked last Friday minutes after arriving in the UK from Washington DC.
Within days, Mr. Hunt had torn up the vast majority of Ms. Truss' mini tax cut budget and launched a quest for sweeping spending cuts to balance the books.
But it has now emerged that he rejected 'persistent' calls from an unknown number on Friday morning while on a city break with his wife Lucia and three children in Belgium.
When the caller then texted 'Jeremy, it's Liz Truss, please call urgently', the former Cabinet minister burst out laughing, the Daily Mail has revealed. A source said the account is accurate.
Eventually Ms Truss - who was using a different number to the one he had stored in his phone - ordered staff to contact his constituency office in South West Surrey.
Picture:
HOC/UNPIX)It wasn't until half an hour later that an "embarrassed" Mr. Hunt called back. He spent 10 minutes considering the offer, then called back with a "long list of conditions", including the extensive U-turn.
He took a Eurostar to London with his wife and eventually returned to their home in Pimlico in a black cab at 2.50pm.
It was only nine days after Ms Truss complained about 'anti-growth' politicians who were 'taxiing from North London townhouses to the BBC studio to fire anyone challenging the status quo'.
...What's Your Reaction?
![Three of ID's top PR executives quit ad firm Powerhouse [EXCLUSIVE]](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ID-PR-Logo.jpg?#){kind=logo}
