Hunt receives Brexit rebuff as ex-Canadian PM Harper says he is 'neutral' after ...

Hunt receives Brexit rebuff as ex-Canadian PM Harper says he is 'neutral' and 'willing to assist whoever serves' as British prime minister after being earmarked for leading trade role Mr Hunt was reported to have brought in Mr Harper to lead a free trade team Foreign Secretary later said they'd only had 'discussions' about a role Ex-PM Harper said: I would be willing to assist whoever serves as the next leader of the UK Conservative Party on trade matters

By David Wilcock, Whitehall Correspondent For Mailonline

Published: 12:01 BST, 30 June 2019 | Updated: 12:01 BST, 30 June 2019

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Jeremy Hunt was rebuff today as a former Canadian prime minister distanced himself from reports he had been recruited to lead his Brexit negotiating team.

Stephen Harper said that he was 'neutral' in the Tory leadership and happy to assist either Mr Hunt or rival Boris Johnson if they asked.

It came after the Sunday Times suggested the man who led Canada from 2006 to 2015 was among a slew of Brexit draft picks from both sides.

Mr Hunt has also reportedly brought in another Canadian trade expert, Rona Ambrose, and Crawford Falconer, who is highly regarded by Brexiteers.

Mr Johnson, meanwhile, is said to have brought in European Research Group chairman and hardliner Jacob Rees-Mogg and two ministers, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox and Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay.

Talking to Twitter today Mr Harper, who leads the International Democrat Union after serving as a Conservative, wrote: 'I would be willing to assist whoever serves as the next leader of the UK Conservative Party on trade matters, should they wish.

'There is a lot to learn from Canada's strong record in this area. Of course, as IDU chairman I am neutral in all member party leadership races.'

Mr Hunt this morning said that he had been in 'discussions' with Mr Harper and 'he's someone whose talents I'd