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Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is manoeuvring towards Number 10 and considering making a bid for power as the next Conservative leader, according to reports.

The secretary is reportedly planning to throw his hat into to the ring in the next leadership contest after Theresa May steps down

According to the Sunday Times, he has consulted fellow Tories and party donors about whether he should vie for the job in 2019, when the Prime Minister is expected to resign.

After campaigning for Remain during the Brexit referendum campaign, he has since publicly declared himself to have changed his mind and now backs Leave.

And he is said to be considering putting himself up as an alternative to Boris Johnson who, in his role as Foreign Secretary, has made several public blunders.

Sources told the newspaper that Mr Hunt “is in the game and more people are moving in his direction”.

"He's making very clear that he has changed his mind on Brexit. He's been putting himself around to ministers, MPs and donors, making clear that he's someone with a business background, he's pro-leave, Boris is sinking and [Michael] Gove is non-viable,” they are reported to have said.

“The leavers might go for him as a way of stopping Amber and co. He's getting some traction. A periscope has stuck up above the sea on this subject over the past month."

An aide to a Brexiteer minister added: "Jeremy has been supporting Boris and Michael in cabinet, arguing that more preparations are needed for Brexit. At conference he was dropping into conversation that he would vote leave if there was another referendum."

He had reportedly considered running for leadership previously but was had his chances scuppered by the bitter stand-off with junior doctors over imposed changes to contracts.

One senior Conservative said: "If the NHS is the Tory weak spot, which it is, having the most hated health secretary as the next leader - there lies electoral death and destruction."



The Standard has contacted a spokesman for Jeremy Hunt for comment.