Horizons Talk – Sir Jeremy Hunt

On Friday 26th September, during our fortnightly Sixth Form Horizon session, Sir Jeremy Hunt, a senior politician and local Conservative MP for Godalming and Ash, came to Tormead to deliver a short speech and then answered many questions from the audience. 

Hunt talked about the benefits and downsides of his job as an MP as well as the changeable nature of politics. His experience as a politician started in 2005 when he was elected as an MP, and it transformed entirely when he was appointed as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 2010-2012, Secretary of State for Health in 2012-2018 and then became the Chancellor of the Exchequer under Prime Minister Liz Truss in 2022. We found his experience of being Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport particularly interesting as he explained his initial anxiety about organising the upcoming London Olympics and his lack of sporting experience leading to a true interest in sport. His time as a minister in various Conservative governments led him to make many difficult decisions for the country, and it was a considerable opportunity for Tormead’s Sixth Form students to learn the rationale behind some of these decisions. 

During the question and answer segment of the talk, Hunt spoke of the dangers of the Russian/Ukrainian war and whether he had any regrets from his time in power. Hunt detailed his relationship with Keir Starmer (the current Prime Minister) and what he believed Starmer should do to improve the current political situation of the Labour party, giving a mature answer, saying that he truly wanted Starmer to succeed. Other topics he spoke about were the question of tax on private schools and his methods of maintaining mental health whilst under such public scrutiny, to which he gave an incredibly honest answer that everyone appreciated. Students were particularly interested in the striking of junior doctors based on Hunt’s guidance as Health Secretary and the threat of Reform UK to the Conservative party. 

Having Sir Jeremy Hunt visit our school was an amazing privilege, and a great opportunity to learn more about working in the world of politics. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, and there was a lively discussion on topics everyone in the room cared about to some extent, whether that be decisions Hunt made regarding junior doctors or the current socio-economic state of the world. 

Ruby & Ella, Upper Sixth