The member for Tunbridge Wells told the Times on Monday that he would be voting in the leadership race for Hunt, who served as Health Secretary from 2012 until 2018, and who has also just won support from Penny Mordaunt, the Eurosceptic Defence Secretary.
Hunt, who supported Britain remaining in the EU, had initially suggested he would prefer a second referendum on the terms of any exit deal and backed the UK staying in the Single Market. He later changed his mind and said he supported Brexit.
The leadership hopeful has recently said if he became prime minister he would be prepared for a no-deal Brexit, but ‘wouldn’t do it if there was a prospect of a better deal’.
Business Secretary Greg Clark has made no secret of his opposition to Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
In 2018, he declined to rule out the prospect of resigning in the event of a No Deal Brexit, and in March this year, Mr Clark defied the Conservative whip and backed an amendment ruling out a no-deal under any circumstances.
Another Tory leader hopeful, Esther McVey, has said she would sack any ‘Remainer’ ministers on her cabinet if she were given the top job.
Jeremey Hunt is currently second favourite to win the leadership contest. Oddschecker.com has Boris Johnson as the firm favourite at 4/6, Hunt at 4/1 and Andrea Leadsom as third favourite at 10/1.
Michael Gove, who admitted taking cocaine to a national newspaper at the weekend, has fallen to fourth place at 20/1.
Meanwhile, in his Tunbridge Wells constituency on Westminster voting intentions, the latest prediction based on YouGov polling puts Greg Clark third with 22 per cent and the Liberal Democrats and Brexit Party tied for first place with 26 per cent.
Mr Clark won his seat at the 2017 general election with a 56 per cent share of the vote leading to a majority of 16,500.
