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Are the Tories embarrassed by Jeremy Hunt’s speech?

Every family across the UK knows the familiar dread of hosting a party, attended by an infamous uncle who can always be relied on to say something outrageous and offend unfamiliar guests.

When it comes to Theresa May’s cabinet, there could be a few contenders for the title of ‘embarrassing uncle,’ but this week, it appears to be the Prime Minister’s Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Mr S couldn’t help but note that while the Conservatives have posted transcripts of every minister of state’s conference speech on their press website (with the notable exception of the dull Greg Clark), Jeremy Hunt’s speech is conspicuously absent.

Why the cold shoulder for Hunt? Mr S thinks it’s down to his crowd-pleasing remark at conference, which compared the European Union to the USSR:

‘What happened to the confidence and ideals of the European dream?’ The ‘EU was set up to protect freedom.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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