The Profound Tragedy Of The Black Conservative Politician.
Ambition, but at what cost?
Back in 2012, not too long before I moved away from London, England to work abroad, I used to go the British Library, twice a week to read and research. It was at this time that I met Kwasi Kwarteng, already a Conservative member of parliament for Spelthorne — a large constituency, which covers Britain’s biggest airport — Heathrow.
Kwarteng, a Cambridge PhD, who had published a book titled: “ Ghosts of the empire” seemed like one of those young, hungry and dynamic Tories, destined to shake up British politics forever. When we spoke then, he told me about his plans to write a book, which would eviscerate all politicians — conservative, liberal and labour —of their management of the economy.
But as the years went by, over the course of four electoral cycles in 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019, his progression seemed highly unlikely as lesser educated and qualified Tories kept getting promoted ahead of him.
And then all that changed in 2020.
Kwasi Kwarteng became the business secretary, responsible for government policy on business and the private sector.
Any goodwill that Britain’s best educated politician, (yes, he is by far the best educated parliamentarian) may have generated upon his appointment…