UK's Hunt quits government after leadership rival Johnson takes office

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Wednesday he was quitting the government after new prime minister and recent leadership rival Boris Johnson asked him to take a different ministerial role.

"I would have been honoured to carry on my work at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office but understand the need for a new PM to choose his team," Hunt said.

He said that "after 9 yrs in Cabinet & over 300 cab mtgs now is the time to return 2 backbenches from where PM will have my full support."

A series of ministers from Theresa May's government have quit or been sacked since Johnson took office earlier on Wednesday vowing to leave the European Union on Oct 31 regardless of whether he can reach any exit deal.

China Daily – Agencies