Theresa May and the Tory Party love Jeremy Hunt but do you?

Op-Ed: As a Labour Party supporter and member I have been trying to avoid the ongoing television coverage of the annual Conservative Party conference. As a blogger I really should tune in but hey I am retired.

So as a political dabbler long-time voters who has watched elected Prime Ministers come and go I thought I would give unelected PM Theresa May's first conference as leader a miss.

There is only so much my blood pressure can stand.

But the odd unavoidable news clip does catch you out at times.

When it and if it does note how half empty conference appears to be a lot of the time.

There will be fringe events which could be divisive but of course the Tory Party that spins itself as some sort of champion of we the "ordinary people" has priced most people out of attending.

The Conservative Party may claim to be everyone's first choice these days but that is just for carefully crafted expensive spin propped up by a drip feed from the mainstream media.

And Wednesday at the Tory Party's love-fest Ms May addressed conference and shared her love of health minister Jeremy Hunt.

Social media responded robustly. Here are just a few Twitter responses;

What!!?? #TheresaMay heaps praise on NHS wrecker #JeremyHunt ….. sooner he resigns the better #ConservativePartyConference
— Ray Mach (@raymach1)

RT SkyNews: .Theresa_May gives credit to Jeremy Hunt, and says Labour does not have a "monopoly on compassion" https://t.co/bViSRjwsvM

— Osmanlı Genci (@OsmanlGencii)
All credibility lost when #TheresaMay praises #JeremyHunt #nhs

— Myar Seitis (@Nowtsabother)
Oh yes, Jeremy Hunt is really popular amongst health workers. Good awareness there #TheresaMay #CPC16 #ConservativePartyConference

— Daniel Morgan (@Bogglemyminds)
Can't believe TM had the nerve to stand there & give credit to Jeremy Hunt!!! Absolutely shocking!!! #CPC16

— Chelle Belle (@Shellybellylou)
How can you praise the NHS and thank Jeremy Hunt at the same time? #CPC16  #TheresaMay

— Fi Fi NiCks (@MissDeeN)
good to know Theresa May just lost the doctor vote by praising Jeremy Hunt #CPC16

— Aster King (@thatasterking)
What does she see in him?

Often proved to be incompetent in his various ministerial roles Hunt appears to be the "Teflon-coated kid."

In February 2016 as Hunt began to wage war against NHS junior Doctors we tool a look at what we called a "career of cock-ups."

According to Wikipedia "Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt was born November 1, 1966, and is a British Conservative Party politician, who is the Secretary of State for Health and the Member of Parliament for South West Surrey. He was previously Culture Secretary (2010–12). As Health Secretary, he has been criticised for, amongst other things, his support of homeopathy, dangerous advice on meningitis, and imposing a controversial contract on junior doctors."

He arrived on the national political landscape at the 2010 General Election but was first elected as an MP in 2005.

Prior to this he was a language teacher in Japan and moved on to PR; he co-founded a company now known as Hotcourses, a major client of which is the British Council. He retains 48% of the shares in the company.

He also has under his belt a failed attempt to export marmalade to Japan.

He came onto the Conservative scene as Shadow Minister for Disabled People in December 2005. As Wikipedia continues "In the same year [2005] he was a co-author of a policy pamphlet Direct Democracy: An Agenda For A New Model Party which included statements supporting denationalising the NHS and suggested replacing it with "universal insurance". Hunt later denied that the policy pamphlet expresses his views."

Hunt may have moved roles as part of Tory re-shuffles but he has retained senior positions in spite of obvious failings; he did however support David Cameron when he made his bid to become leader of the Tory party.

So what qualifies Hunt to hold a senior ministerial position on health?

Expenses accusations set the ball rolling in 2009 and then in 2010:

Hillsborough comments in June 2010, saw Hunt attract controversy for suggesting football hooliganism played a part in the death of 96 football fans in the Hillsborough disaster; when it has been suggested that a lack of police control and the presence of terraces and perimeter fences were established as the causes of the tragedy. He later apologised saying "I know that fan unrest played no part in the terrible events of April 1989 and I apologise to Liverpool fans and the families of those killed and injured in the Hillsborough disaster if my comments caused any offence.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax affairs in April 2012, the Daily Telegraph disclosed that Hunt had reduced his tax bill by over £100,000 by receiving dividends from Hotcourses in the form of property which was promptly leased back to the company. The dividend in specie was paid just before a 10% rise in dividend tax and Hunt was not required to pay stamp duty on the property
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In April 2012 we reported: UK Leveson Inquiry, Revenge of the Murdochs

"The UK Leveson inquiry into corruption and sleaze is turning into a rollercoaster affair we wrote. It is bound to see at least one political casualty and right now that person seems likely to be Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Just how many more Government Ministers can survive is difficult to assess. In most people's eyes the likes of Theresa May should have already been given the chop.

Yesterday the son, James Murdoch, testified at the inquiry and today it is the turn of father, Rupert Murdoch. What is it they say? Hell hath no fury like a Murdoch scorned? 

Peter Cruddas was one Tory Minister sent packing after a recent undercover sting by the Times newspaper. The Times of course is part of the Murdoch Empire."

But Hunt survived even though Labour tried to spearhead an investigation into the man.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In June 2012 there was a Labour motion regarding Jeremy Hunt which was defeated

UK parliament debate and vote on the Labour motion that Jeremy Hunt should be investigated-UK MPs have voted against a further investigation into Tory Minister Jeremy Hunt. The defeat of the motion is all the more incredible as during today's debate he admitted he may have,  'inadvertently misled' MPs", though never lied. 

The result of this vote was always going to be so. Once Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg advised Liberal Democrat MPS to stay well clear of the vote the writing was on the wall. 

David Cameron's Tory section of Parliament has enough of a majority to win through such a vote. Labour's last chance was that Lib Dems would have a free vote or vote by way of their conscience. Mr Clegg's advice to abstain from voting can be viewed in two different ways.

One claim is that the Lib Dems abstained as their relationship with Rupert Murdoch and his media empire was almost non-existent. As a UK political party that failed time and time again to win an election they were probably seen to have little to offer.

Further in the report we wrote: David Cameron will for now breathe a huge sigh of relief. The flames lapping at the heels of Hunt were beginning to scorch the PMs legs too. Many Lib Dems have accepted that as far as the BSkB bid went wrongdoing was not a problem. For them it is the subsequent resignation of Hunt's special advisor Adam Smith which is a cause for concern.

The issue is just who was ultimately responsible for Mr Smith's dangerous liaisons with the Murdoch Empire. Did he act alone? That question in most people's minds remains unanswered; as to whether the ministerial code of conduct was breached there seems to be a case to answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 2012: Jeremy Hunt favours 12-week abortion time limit

Tory MP Andrew Lansley spearheaded the disastrous NHS reforms and was then moved to another post. You have to laugh we commented. They shuffle from one post to another proving that they are Jack or Jills of all trades and masters or mistresses of none. After all how can you be a specialist in health then transport then home affairs and then the military? You cannot obviously.

Lansley was replaced by Jeremy Hunt. There have been many allegations in the media regarding Mr Hunt so we can only assume that he has friends in the right places. It seems that he manages to survive and be promoted even though his work record is appalling.

Today he has shown why he is not the man for the post of Health Secretary. Ahead of the Annual Tory Conference Hunt has said that he would be in favour of reducing the time limit for abortions from 24 weeks to just 12. Is he insane?

If he is against abortions then he should say so. Talking of unacceptable time frames is non-productive. Following his words he was quick to say that these were his personal views. Tory leader Dave Cameron was also quick to point out that the Conservatives have no plans to reduce abortion times further.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 2014 we had Virtual doctor appointments trialled in care homes thanks to Mr Hunt and NHS salary rises capped at 1%

"In July 2015 Jeremy Hunt became the subject of the first petition on a new UK Government website to reach the threshold of 100,000 signatures required for a petition to be considered for debate in Parliament" but this week he has broken that record.

Also in 2015 this crackpot health minister announced that "NHS drugs would carry UK taxpayer funded reminder" and released figures to show the "Weekend effect increases NHS deaths dramatically" but that study was proved false. He has also overseen "NHS has plan to beat Brit fat chart success."

But perhaps this Wikipedia claim says it all about Mr Hunt who "has also declared that patient choice was not key to improving NHS performance, in a major break from a policy favoured by Conservative and Labour governments over the past 12 years. He stated that "there are natural monopolies in healthcare, where patient choice is never going to drive change". Following a pre-election report in April 2015 that hospital chiefs shared an average 6% pay rise totalling £35 million, Hunt promised to investigate if the Conservatives won the election. In July 2015, he broke patient confidentiality by tweeting a publicity photo with patient details visible on a board behind him."

There are a fair few petitions relating to Mr Hunt online currently [February 2016]; Consider a vote of No Confidence in Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary on the government's own petition website has 265,894 signatures which means parliament will be forced to debate. [minutes later it stands at 266,246 signatures]

We wonder when that will be and what bad news may be buried simultaneously, a common Tory government trick.

Monday February 15, 2016, the Independent reports "Jeremy Hunt is the most disliked frontline British politician of any party, new poll shows-The Health Secretary is even less popular than his predecessor Andrew Lansley" and that is saying something.

[There are just so many Hunt reports including "Andy Burnham: Why is Jeremy Hunt supporting a lifetime ban on gay men giving blood in Northern Ireland?" from 2014]

I do not want to belittle any profession or job as all require certain skills but I would not Mr Hunt in charge of cleaning my dog's poo on the garden so how come the Tories think he is fit to oversee the running of or valued NHS?