Kwasi Kwarteng, born on May twenty-six, nineteen seventy-five, is a prominent British politician and historian. He made history as the first black Chancellor of the Exchequer, serving under Prime Minister Liz Truss for a brief period in 2022. Kwarteng's political journey began as the Member of Parliament for Spelthorne in Surrey, a position he held from two thousand ten until two thousand twenty-four.
Raised in London by Ghanaian immigrant parents, Kwarteng's educational background is impressive. He attended St Paul's Juniors and Eton College before pursuing higher education at Trinity College, Cambridge. His career began as a columnist for The Daily Telegraph and as a financial analyst, which laid the groundwork for his political aspirations.
Throughout his political career, Kwarteng has been an influential figure within the Conservative Party. He co-authored significant works such as 'After the Coalition' in two thousand eleven and 'Britannia Unchained' in two thousand twelve. His rise through the ranks included serving as parliamentary under-secretary of state for Exiting the European Union under Theresa May and later as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy under Boris Johnson.
In September two thousand twenty-two, Kwarteng announced a controversial mini-budget that included various tax cuts, which led to significant criticism and a decline in the value of the pound sterling. His tenure as Chancellor lasted only thirty-eight days, making him the second-shortest-serving individual in that role. Following his dismissal, he chose not to seek re-election in the two thousand twenty-four general election.