Jeremy Hunt to step down as shadow chancellor with end of Tory leadership race in sight

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Hunt has confirmed he is stepping down from the Conservative frontbench, calling for his party to be “humble” following July’s election defeat. Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt Announcing his return to the backbenches, the MP for Godalming and Ash told Times Radio: “I’ve told both the two leadership candidates that I’ll be stepping back from the shadow cabinet. I’ve enjoyed them all, so thank you very much.” The winner of the leadership race will be announced on Saturday morning, the timing of which meant the party left itself unable to properly criticise the first Labour Budget, which saw chancellor Rachel Reeves unveil £40bn worth of tax rises. Meanwhile, Mr Jenrick called Ms Reeves the “gloom and bust” chancellor, adding: “This Budget completes the biggest heist in modern history.” After months spent warning the public of “tough choices” ahead, Ms Reeves used the Budget to promise to “invest, invest, invest” in order to “fix public services” and announce a £22.6 billion increase in the day-to-day NHS health Budget.