Diverse cabinet

IN A first, Britain’s great offices of state are occupied by women or Asian and black MPs.

New prime minister Lis Truss named Kwasi Kwarteng as the chancellor, Suella Braverman as the home secretary and James Cleverly to succeed her in the foreign office.

In a week where Rishi Sunak lost his chance at the top job – the first Indian-origin politician to have come this far in the contest to be the prime minister, these appointments are significant. For millions of ethnic minorities across the UK, the fact that the top four most important jobs in government are not occupied by white men is noteworthy.

In having three female prime ministers, the Conservatives have shown up Labour, whose shadow front bench has 16 women and which historically has attracted a larger share of ethnic minority voters.

Sunak performed better than many of the polls predicted, perhaps illustrating he was able to persuade Tory members of the merit of his policies and principles.

For many non-white people, however, there are fewer chances to make an impression on decision makers. The symbolism of influential BAME politicians in positions of power should not be underestimated. Such appointments send out the message that talent and the ability to get the job done count, not the ethnicity. It’s a long battle to a more equal society, but it is a step in the right direction.