BRITISH Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Jeremy Hunt as foreign minister Monday after predecessor Boris Johnson resigned in protest at the government’s plans for a close trading relationship with the European Union.

The appointment of Hunt, the long-serving health minister, sees a close May ally replace the maverick Johnson, and could alter the Brexit balance of May’s top ministerial team.

While Johnson was one of the most high-profile Brexit campaigners, Hunt backed “Remain” during the 2016 referendum campaign.

Hunt told LBC Radio in October 2017, however, that he had changed his mind on the issue, in part because of what he said was disappointing “arrogance” in the EU’s behavior during negotiations.

Hunt, 51, had served as health minister for more than five and a half years.

Hunt is married to Lucia, who is from China, and the couple have three children.

(SD-Agencies)