Will Jeremy Hunt turn government inquisitor?

When Jeremy Hunt made it to the final two of the Conservative leadership contest, many presumed this meant he had secured at the very least a senior job in Boris Johnson’s Cabinet. Alas it wasn’t to be. When Johnson won, the then-foreign secretary was swiftly offered the role of defence secretary. He declined – insisting that he wanted to stay put. As a result, Hunt was shown the door.

So, how does the MP for South West Surrey plan to spend his days now he is a mere backbencher? Rumours abound in Westminster that Hunt is considering putting himself forward for a coveted select committee chairmanship – the Health and Social Care Committee. Mr S understands that a number of MPs have been approached about potential support for the former health secretary.

As the longest serving health secretary in history, Hunt ought to be in a good place to interrogate the government about its various health election pledges, which have been questioned by numerous fact checking organisations.