PM’s race adviser tried to quit over ‘divisive politics’
BORIS JOHNSON’S top adviser on ethnic minorities threatened to quit over the Government’s ‘divisive’ politics.
In his resignation letter, Samuel Kasumu also warned of a lack of empathy.
Mr Kasumu, who is working on efforts to improve take-up of the Covid jab among ethnic minorities, was convinced to stay by vaccines minister nadhim Zahawi.
But his letter to Mr Johnson spelled out his fears.
He wrote: ‘It is well documented that black and Asian people are significantly less likely to vote Conservative, despite often having values that are aligned. The gains made under David Cameron in 2015 have been eroded in subsequent elections. Though we now have a coalition of voters to provide us with a much coveted majority, I fear for what may become of the party in the future by choosing to pursue a politics steeped in division.’
He went on: ‘We can be firm, robust, but also civil and empathetic. I fear that empathy is a word not conducive to the culture that has been developed and the damage that is often caused by our actions is not much considered. As someone that has spent his whole adult life serving others, that tension has been at times unbearable.’
He decided to quit after becoming dismayed when a minister berated a journalist. He accused Treasury and equalvideo ities minister Kemi Badenoch of breaking the ministerial code by launching a social media tirade against the reporter.
In his letter, obtained by the BBC, he said no10 did not react to Miss Badenoch’s ‘concerning’ behaviour. The row will dismay no10, which had been trying to brush it aside.
It began last week when nadine White, a reporter for the HuffPost news website, asked Miss Badenoch why she did not appear alongside other ethnic minority MPs in an online video promoting the Covid vaccine.
Miss Badenoch sent eight public tweets criticising the reporter, who was bombarded with abuse as a result. The minister said it was a ‘sad insight into how some journalists operate’ and accused HuffPost of ‘looking to sow distrust by making up claims I refused to take part in a video campaign’.
She said she was not in the because she was taking part in Covid jab trials, and claimed Miss White’s question was ‘creepy and bizarre’.
In his letter, Mr Kasumu wrote: ‘Last week, the actions of a minister were concerning. I believe the ministerial code was breached. However, more concerning than the act was the lack of response internally. It was not OK or justifiable, but somehow nothing was said. I waited and waited for something from the senior leadership team to even point to an expected standard, but it did not materialise.’
no10 denied the Cabinet Office was investigating Miss Badenoch, adding: ‘This Government is committed to inclusion... and is the most ethnically diverse in this country’s history.’
But Simon Woolley, the former head of no10’s race unit, said last night that the Prime Minister should force Miss Badenoch to apologise or sack her, adding: ‘I hope Samuel’s bravery in calling this out provokes a true leadership response. unless Kemi Badenoch offers a fulsome apology to nadine White, her position appears to be untenable.’
‘Tension has been unbearable’