Jeremy Hunt caught on tape moaning of 'total failure to appreciate our superb record'

Jeremy Hunt has been overheard lamenting the "total failure to appreciate our superb record" following 14 years of Conservative governance. In a covertly recorded exchange, the Chancellor expressed his "incredible frustration" that there is a perception the UK is going to "hell in a handcart".

The Conservatives have faced criticism from opponents for the state of the nation as people are struggling financially, NHS waiting lists are soaring, and the justice system is under strain with prisons at capacity. Despite these challenges and the economy's lack of growth, he conveyed his annoyance at a Tory fundraiser about the negative outlook on their performance.

During his April talk at a Conservative party gathering, he warned: "As far as the election is concerned we won't win it if we are not united and if we lose this election it will be because the British people do not want to vote for a divided party and it will be our own stupid fault and we need to remember that."

He continued by addressing the discontent highlighted in media reports: "The thing that is causing most division and dissent in the newspapers is a total failure to appreciate our superb record since 2010. I just want to say that I feel incredibly frustrated at this narrative that is building up that things are going to hell in the handcart," reports the Mirror.

Mr. Hunt also attributed some of the current difficulties to the aftermath of the global financial crisis, which began three years before the Tories took office, alongside the impacts of the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. "What has happened over the last 14 years is that we have had to cope with three of the biggest economic shocks in our lifetime, not one of the biggest shocks but three altogether in that period of Conservatives have been in office," he said.

The Chancellor, Mr Hunt, was the guest of honour at a fundraising dinner hosted by the Tory Reform Group. The event, open to the public, saw tickets selling at £90 a pop.

His tenure as a minister spans most of the Conservative Party's time in power. After the Tories' 2010 victory, David Cameron appointed him Culture Secretary, and he went on to become the longest-serving Health Secretary in history.

Theresa May later promoted him to Foreign Secretary, but his time in government was interrupted when he lost to Boris Johnson in the 2019 Tory leadership contest. He made a comeback when Liz Truss named him Chancellor following her disastrous mini-Budget.

Mr Hunt now faces a fight to retain his seat in Parliament, standing for election in the new constituency of Godalming and Ash in Surrey. Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones has lambasted the current Government's attitude towards their performance.

He said: "Gillian Keegan asked why nobody would say she's doing a good job when schools were collapsing. Rishi Sunak locked himself away in Downing Street complaining that voters are not giving him enough credit.

"And now Jeremy Hunt is caught complaining that Brits aren't giving him credit for the Tory economic record. It is absolute nonsense. We now know that the biggest threat to the economy is five more years of Conservative chaos."

In response, a Conservative Party spokesperson defended their achievements: "Since 2010, Conservative governments have made great strides. 4 million more people in work, record funding in the NHS, pensioners protected with the triple lock and education standards improved."