“The Prime Minister is in charge,” insisted Jeremy Hunt. “I think it’s important when you talk about leaving things, the biggest element of this mini-budget was the energy price guarantee, where people’s bills were heading towards £6,500 in many occasions
“She has changed the way to get there, she has not changed the destination, which is to grow the economy.
“He was right to recognize with the international situation, with the market situation, that change was necessary.”
On the Tories’ private concerns over the Liz Truss point, Mr Hunt tells colleagues: “When I talk to my constituents in South West Surrey, what they want is stability and the worst for that would be more change at the top, another extended lead.contest.
“The second thing I would say is that when it comes to a general election, the public give their verdict on this Government, they will judge us much more on what happens in the next 18 months than the last 18 days. I think it has been Under extraordinary pressure, I know how difficult this job is having seen many prime ministers at close range over the past few years. I would prefer a prime minister who recognizes when he has to make difficult decisions.”