EXCLUSIVE: University Of Surrey Professor suggests Jeremy Hunt could become interim Conservative leader
Politics expert Doctor Mark Shanahan added that the Godalming & Ash MP could be a "kingmaker" in terms of who becomes the next permanent head of the party.
A professor at the University Of Surrey has suggested that Godalming and Ash MP Jeremy Hunt could become an interim leader of the Conservative Party, whilst the party looks for their successor to Rishi Sunak.
There is speculation around what Mr Hunt will do in politics after retaining his seat in dramatic circumstances last week.
The former Chancellor beat the Liberal Democrat candidate Paul Follows by just over 800 votes to secure the Godalming & Ash seat.
"He is still a very influential player."
In his victory speech after being elected, Hunt had admitted that the "crushing" defeat for the Tories at the general election was "a bitter pill to swallow".
It has been widely reported that the former Chancellor will not run for leadership.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio Surrey and East Hampshire, Doctor Mark Shanahan, who is an Associate Professor in Politics at the University Of Surrey, said that he could see Mr Hunt taking on the role temporarily.
"I suspect as a national politician, Jeremy Hunt's best days are behind him, but he could be a kingmaker in whoever is going to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.
"He is still a very influential player, there are far fewer of those now with 12 cabinet ministers losing their seats in the election last week. Jeremy Hunt is one of the most senior figures left, whoever he decides to support will get some momentum, some wind in their sails.
"He may even have a role... if Rishi Sunak decides that the opposition green benches are not for him... and he chooses to resign from parliament, We could even see a period where somebody like Jeremy Hunt, as one of the most senior figures in the party, could have a role as some kind of interim leader until the permanent successor is elected."
Doctor Shanahan added that Jeremy Hunt worked hard in what was a competitive local election.
"Jeremy Hunt was out on the streets of Godalming and Ash pretty much every day of the six week campaign. For a Chancellor, what was most noticeable was how invisible he was on the national campaign. He was hardly seen outside the constituency. He worked the doors, he worked the phones, he got around to events, perhaps more often than he had in the past."
The likes of Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat and Suella Braverman have all been linked with becoming the next Conservative leader.
Jeremy Hunt has served in a variety of roles within government since first becoming an MP in 2005, including as Culture Secretary, Health Secretary and Foreign Secretary before becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2022. He has stood for leadership twice.