Kwasi Kwarteng's Side of The Disastrous Mini-budget

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  • Опубліковано 6 лип 2024
  • Why did the Tory Party choose to make Liz Truss and Boris Johnson prime minister? How does it feel to be the second shortest-serving chancellor in post-war history? What was the true thinking behind the disastrous Truss-Kwarteng mini-budget?
    Rory and Alastair speak to Kwasi Kwarteng, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, about the future of the Tory Party, New Labour's conservatism, Rishi Sunak, Rwanda, Brexit, Liz Truss, diversity in politics, the British Empire, and much, much more.
    00:00 Intro
    04:50 Would you pass the Eton entry exam today?
    06:36 Parental heritage and upbringing
    11:25 In simple terms what was good and bad about the British Empire
    13:29 Why has the British Empire taken such a hold on the right wing psyche
    19:33 Rory and Kwasi weren't popular at Eton
    21:05 What are the pros of Liz Truss?
    23:58 How Boris Johnson's premiership started good but lost its way
    28:18 Why did you want a career in politics?
    33:08 Would you give advice to Rachel Reeves?
    36:32 Thoughts on Keir Starmer going more left and now being more right
    40:41 Why there has to be an element of populism in the Conservative Party
    41:46 Talk us through ethnicity in British Politics
    45:23 Do you think the Rwanda plan is working?
    46:25 Net Zero climate goals and how can we financially make it
    49:46 Importance of not being so reliant on China
    51:15 Rory and Kwasi entered parliament at the same time but had different experiences, one is a romantic and the other a realist
    1:00:06 What was a bigger mistake, backing Liz Truss or backing Boris Johnson?
    1:00:55 Did you not have an operation to become Prime Minister?
    1:02:45 Role as Chancellor - the pace was absurd and it moved 150 mph
    1:22:14 Why didn't you support Rishi Sunak?
    1:23:48 Can you see a way that Labour won't win at the next General Election?
    1:30:30 Who are the historians that have impacted you?
    1:36:54 Do you believe in virtue?
    1:38:23 Outro
    1:39:27 Debrief

КОМЕНТАРІ • 563

  • @dddddbbb
    @dddddbbb Місяць тому +255

    A great example of one of those politicians that sees it all as a game.

    • @MyMongo100
      @MyMongo100 Місяць тому +4

      Yes, he came across as pretty arrogant

    • @MayorMcC666
      @MayorMcC666 Місяць тому

      so someone like you?

    • @heyhonpuds
      @heyhonpuds Місяць тому +3

      Yes that famous politician dddddbbb. Just like him

    • @dddddbbb
      @dddddbbb Місяць тому +4

      @@heyhonpuds And so it was my life was diverted from that point onwards to become a politician. But not just any politician, the greatest game player of all time!

    • @PermaBear-bi9jk
      @PermaBear-bi9jk Місяць тому +1

      Campbell included, still not an ounce of remorse or guilt. Just carries on trying to accumulate as much money as possible…

  • @MrTomwazere
    @MrTomwazere Місяць тому +245

    Fascinating interview. Two things:
    1. Kwasi seems like a really really intelligent and nice person.
    2. Kwasi sounded like he didn’t give a damn about anything. He made it sound like a big game.

    • @terminallybill7073
      @terminallybill7073 Місяць тому +37

      Nice? He shorted the pound for his rich buddies, he deserves prison. Absolute scumbag.

    • @russodoni5331
      @russodoni5331 Місяць тому +14

      It is all a big game. For all his and Truss' pretence of being radical political disruptors, their entire mini-budget was really just 'let's do neoliberalism, but even more'; it wasn't actually a huge set of changes and absolutely wasn't some serious attempt to shift the foundations of the economic order. He's really just the epitome of the Blair/Cameron neoliberal consensus politician, who operates in such a very small window of possible moves (low tax, minimal state spending, privatize everything) that politics is just a distracting reality TV show with very little positive impact on anything. Politics in this world view is simply a matter of playing out party games and making enough noise to get people to look at you, with no real program for changing or improving anything.
      The reason the Tories have basically nothing to show for 14 years in power is because their entire philosophy of government is to do nothing.

    • @Red1Green2Blue3
      @Red1Green2Blue3 Місяць тому +8

      And that's why he's more dangerous than the lions like Suella. It's easy to oppose people you find distasteful

    • @FranzBieberkopf
      @FranzBieberkopf Місяць тому +2

      A textbook example of the difference between education and intelligence

    • @chrisspencer6502
      @chrisspencer6502 Місяць тому

      Yes it’s the accents don’t be taking in. He’s making about as much sense as a manic crack addict

  • @Xesgoodness
    @Xesgoodness Місяць тому +106

    So grateful for Rory. I’m incredibly thankful for pausing the conversation and breaking down what’s been discussed in layman’s terms. Incredibly. Pls keep it up!

  • @nicka3697
    @nicka3697 Місяць тому +208

    I was surprised how much I liked Kwarti while being horrified at his view of politics as a game where positioning wins over substance.

    • @DrakenKorin140
      @DrakenKorin140 Місяць тому +6

      It is a bit depressing to hear, but looking at all the infighting in the UK and US. It makes a degree of sense if longer term prosperity is the goal

    • @kwabenaakuamoa9897
      @kwabenaakuamoa9897 Місяць тому +9

      He’s a realist and a pragmatist

    • @plasticsstrings
      @plasticsstrings Місяць тому +3

      Charisma is the killer of the people

    • @chortler
      @chortler Місяць тому +2

      Agree. Really awful man.

    • @curingd
      @curingd Місяць тому +6

      Precisely. I get the impression that everything is an intellectual game to him with no real world consequence (which he has been mostly shielded from).

  • @knightsnight5929
    @knightsnight5929 Місяць тому +208

    Kamikaze Kwarteng! What a guy! Did more damage to the UK economy in the least amount of time than anyone before! Quite an achievement!

  • @xavierhucklenbruch1798
    @xavierhucklenbruch1798 Місяць тому +154

    It's good to hear from somebody I do not agree with at all

    • @Jablicek
      @Jablicek Місяць тому +13

      Absolutely. Especially when they're chasismatic and have a way with words. They're the ones to really look out for.

  • @midnightwolfee2128
    @midnightwolfee2128 Місяць тому +467

    A fabulous example of how intellect without emotional IQ can be so dangerous.

    • @oldschool3670
      @oldschool3670 Місяць тому +35

      I only see pseudo intellect

    • @paulwalker797
      @paulwalker797 Місяць тому

      There is no intellect. Just a tired rehash of old failed ideas. An intellect learns from failure rather than repeating failure in the hope that things will turn out different.

    • @Newerasamearea
      @Newerasamearea Місяць тому +36

      ​@oldschool3670 the guy was a kings scholar and phd'd at Cambridge. Also smashed his exams at eton. EQ, Leadership, common sense maybe but tough to doubt his intellect.

    • @paulwalker797
      @paulwalker797 Місяць тому

      @@Newerasamearea You don't have to be an 'intellectual' to pass an exam. You only need application under given circumstances. Many super-smart people are crap at exams and tests and many dumb people have passed endless exams...I know, I saw it firsthand when I spent 25 years teaching. Don't respect someone's background or training, respect what they do.

    • @paulwalker797
      @paulwalker797 Місяць тому

      @@Newerasamearea As a teacher of 25 years I can assure you that you don't have to be an 'intellectual' to pass upwards through a system of testing. Plenty of the smartest, most creative people struggle with testing and the examination system while their below par classmates sail through. We have enough evidence in the current conservative party of 'well educated' fools destroying the country.

  • @lamarnolan6727
    @lamarnolan6727 Місяць тому +171

    We need more guests who bring out this antagonistic side of Rory😂

  • @NessieAndrew
    @NessieAndrew Місяць тому +38

    Probably one of the best interviews you've done.

  • @samuelmelton8353
    @samuelmelton8353 Місяць тому +165

    'You spaffed tens of billions'
    Kwasi: AHAHHHAHHAHA 🤣

    • @samuelmelton8353
      @samuelmelton8353 Місяць тому +18

      Rory: 😬

    • @rigs7748
      @rigs7748 Місяць тому +16

      It's really not an overstatement when it is said that it is all a big joke to these people. This being just another in the long list of blatant confirmations. Awful.

    • @samuelmelton8353
      @samuelmelton8353 Місяць тому +2

      @@daves301 For all of it that went to average people, it was probably cancelled out by the damage to our economy they inflicted.

    • @chadvader974
      @chadvader974 24 дні тому

      whats the timestamp please?

    • @janethornton3834
      @janethornton3834 21 день тому +1

      God and these people were in power...a big game and doesn't impact their own finances but the idiots like me who work for s living

  • @m00plank90
    @m00plank90 Місяць тому +36

    He’s financially comfortable, so it’s all a game. He has no real existential skin in the game. Win some/lose some/move on. While millions suffer for his part. The glibness about it is concerning.

  • @TheYoungVeganUK
    @TheYoungVeganUK Місяць тому +19

    I didn't realise how much I had wanted him to explain himself and his reasoning

  • @onenote6619
    @onenote6619 Місяць тому +22

    Kwarteng made one serious mistake. He listened to Liz Truss and ignored everyone who knows anything about economics. But if you can make that mistake, you can make any mistake.

    • @0_________________
      @0_________________ Місяць тому +4

      he was desperate for power even he knew he made a mistake.

  • @jakestevenson6388
    @jakestevenson6388 Місяць тому +29

    Really interesting to compare him to people like Theresa May. For her, as much as she did terrible things in power, there was a sense of public service. For Kwasi, it's all about getting into power and holding it. There's a terrifying lack of empathy here.

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому +1

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

    • @maxhaughton1964
      @maxhaughton1964 16 днів тому +1

      It would surprise me if Theresa May did better than him on some kind of empathy test. She's more sympathetic but he's probably a better read of a person and smarter (there being a massive difference between "IQ" and "EQ" isn't particularly useful IME - it's just personality differences).

  • @kicorse
    @kicorse Місяць тому +70

    I do appreciate his honesty, which Campbell lacks when discussing Iraq, for example. At the same time he comes across as the opposite of a footballer still having nightmares about a missed penalty from two years ago. His mistakes have had devastating consequences for many people, but to him he just lost a game. Probably the best attitude for his own mental health, but politicians should really appreciate the gravity of the decisions they're making.

    • @zt2019
      @zt2019 Місяць тому +3

      Very good point

    • @MyFluXx
      @MyFluXx Місяць тому +2

      Very insightful, I was thinking the same thing but could not articulate the thought!

  • @largesatsuma
    @largesatsuma Місяць тому +23

    I loved Rory’s reaction when Kwasi said he thought Boris would be reigned in 😂

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

  • @hustlinmagic
    @hustlinmagic Місяць тому +225

    After listening to this, it becomes quite clear that Kwasi Kwarteng is part of the problem with our politics.
    Too much ego, too much Eton confidence, but not an ounce of common sense and very little genuine understanding of what public service actually is.

    • @larslarsen5414
      @larslarsen5414 Місяць тому +18

      Exactly. I have been following Brexit way too much sitting here in Denmark for eight years (my youngest childs entire life!). What I have seen is this endless stream of extremely well-educated, very articulate, very smart, very confident men ... very charming also.... but with absolutely no realistic political project. They are living in fantasy land. The real worlds problems are just not very interesting to them. They are aiming higher...

    • @Jaaj2009
      @Jaaj2009 Місяць тому +8

      100% agree, statements like Boris was the right man for the job at the time because he was a good campaigner, when he got to office clearly had no idea what he was doing. This over confidence they have that they can make big statements on paper to attract attention and that's all you need to get in government. He says himself that governing is totally different, but the idea that if you are in the right crowd you can have a go and take your turn and then walk away from it and pursue other projects like its not your problem. It's honestly repulsive, he has no interest in seriously building a good country, its all about career ambitions and getting to the top.

    • @JK-zx3go
      @JK-zx3go Місяць тому +2

      Its all about him.

    • @NoNo-we6mp
      @NoNo-we6mp Місяць тому +5

      ⁠​⁠@@larslarsen5414I think a lot them are just in it for the status and don’t actually care. There are a lot of these office seeking types in the uk.

    • @whtwht
      @whtwht Місяць тому

      Most UK politicians don't give a damn about the public and helping towards a we'll run society .They should look at well run countries but hubris is quite a thing.

  • @xxteresaxx9227
    @xxteresaxx9227 25 днів тому +5

    Bad, bad, bad. Everything is poor: morals, accountability, competence, values. I'm horrified we have had someone like him in government

  • @colinseeney471
    @colinseeney471 Місяць тому +51

    It's a really interesting podcast. Kwasi was much more thoughtful than I expected

    • @MouldyCheesePie
      @MouldyCheesePie 19 днів тому

      Thoughtful but doesn't appear to have learned much, or care much. It's like he lacks the real world understanding.

  • @davidfoote9088
    @davidfoote9088 Місяць тому +27

    His openness to be a part of, and to welcome, popular politics convinces me that he will not be missed from parliament. Why does he think that so many of the electorate admire being told lies and half truths in a bid to capture their votes. Such arrogance to believe that we are not intelligent enough to interpret an honest debate. I agree with Alastair, such populism has had its day

    • @accountnamewithheld
      @accountnamewithheld 28 днів тому +1

      Why do you think Reform polls so well? They are flat out honest

    • @StopTheRot
      @StopTheRot 24 дні тому

      @@accountnamewithheldI agree. They are Nazi sympathisers and - while not quite happy to admit it - they don’t deny it either. People respect that they haven’t sacked Gribbin because it shows they are willing to stand by their opinions.
      Their opinions aren’t for me though. Hell no.

    • @niyiawe8804
      @niyiawe8804 20 днів тому

      ​@accountnamewithheld and they will shaft you properly cos they keep saying whay you wanna hear😅😅

  • @benglishman
    @benglishman Місяць тому +12

    Kwasi comes across as someone who thinks that making "bold" statements, doing something "different", making headlines and campaigning well are all that matters in politics. Exactly the sort of person who shouldn't be in politics and not surprising that when he was in government it was a total disaster.

  • @juliangilbert5465
    @juliangilbert5465 Місяць тому +14

    The last Eton entrance question is extraordinary . This is dystopian .

    • @stephenderry9488
      @stephenderry9488 Місяць тому +11

      That's why they call it a Prepare-a-Tory school.

    • @philipvjones397
      @philipvjones397 25 днів тому +2

      It's meant as a written q. Not easy for a 12 year old admittedly, but it depends on how your brain works. It's the sort of thing you would have had in an 11+ back in the day - when there were actually decent schools.

    • @juliangilbert5465
      @juliangilbert5465 25 днів тому +2

      @@philipvjones397 I passed the 11 Plus and went to a grammar school. We were never asked how we would react to protestors being shot. Get your head out of your backside.

  • @battina
    @battina Місяць тому +62

    Alastair: “You spaffed tens of billions.”
    Kwasi: *Laughs like it’s the best day of his life*. Total sociopath lacking compassion or respect.

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

    • @danielkarmy4893
      @danielkarmy4893 29 днів тому +3

      @@acheampongkf To be fair to him, when you consider the job he did as Chancellor, expecting him to be able to pronounce his own name may be getting ahead of ourselves ever so slightly!

  • @sbing7
    @sbing7 Місяць тому +9

    Brilliant interview! Thank you all. Kwasi was open, relatively honest and not defensive, which is saying a lot about any politician! But the key to the success of the discussion, in my opinion, was Rory's constant push toward the meaning and morality of our actions. He was , in a word, tough and that makes it so much more interesting. Good work for all 3 guys!

  • @spanishinquisition8678
    @spanishinquisition8678 Місяць тому +12

    Really appreciated Rory pointing out when Kwarteng was being incredibly blasé. And I still think Rory was in the wrong party!

    • @MouldyCheesePie
      @MouldyCheesePie 19 днів тому

      Rory was naive to not realise what that party was like behind the scenes.

  • @twelvebears1971
    @twelvebears1971 22 дні тому +7

    I don’t understand why everyone is being so forgiving. It’s not a bloody game and the consequences of his actions and those of his party have seriously affected thousands. This is just arrogance of the worst kind.

    • @MouldyCheesePie
      @MouldyCheesePie 19 днів тому +1

      They're allowing him to speak and giving him a false sense of security, which makes him open up more and more 🤦‍♂ At least we now know what was going through their heads.

    • @chukwudiilozue9171
      @chukwudiilozue9171 4 дні тому

      @@MouldyCheesePie Air. Air was in their heads.

  • @julianroberts8760
    @julianroberts8760 Місяць тому +7

    Wonderful example of disagreeing agreeably. A really enjoyable episode to watch in spite of the seriousness of what was talked about.

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

  • @carltontweedle5724
    @carltontweedle5724 Місяць тому +24

    14 years of trickle down economics where the bloody money gone. Not on the people we are ripped off by the gas the electric the water. If you drive a car your goosed.

    • @tomblackwell6374
      @tomblackwell6374 Місяць тому +2

      Yeah, time for trickle up, universal income for all with a cap on pricing so the markets don't jack prices up. That way businesses and services which working people actually want will thrive not credit and debt buy now pay later trampy shells

    • @boas7742
      @boas7742 Місяць тому

      We have not had trickle down economics for the past 10 years though, nothing about conservative economic policy has been conservative or neo-liberal economics in nature they have repeatedly raised income tax in order to try and fix an inflation and debt crisis that they fundamentally misunderstood and anyone suggesting trickle up economics is a socialist and border line communist who if they got their way would entirely collapse the economy

    • @fl-ri-
      @fl-ri- 18 днів тому

      I would say 27 years of socialism ruined the country

  • @barry013
    @barry013 Місяць тому +15

    We were going at 150 mph - into a brick wall…

  • @jdg9999
    @jdg9999 Місяць тому +5

    Honestly pathetic that he tries to suggest that you had to be yearning for the British Empire to want to be a sovereign independent country.
    Wanting to be free of foreign rule is the opposite of imperialism.

  • @davidbaker5561
    @davidbaker5561 19 днів тому +2

    Your parents should be proud of you Kwasi, you’ve done a lot more to destroy the Tory Party than most 🥳

  • @alanb9443
    @alanb9443 Місяць тому +39

    I feel that it was all just some big experiment for him. He comes across as slightly sarcastic rather than vindictive. He just doesn’t seem to compute that what he did had a major affect of people’s lives. ‘We got it wrong’, yeah but it’s more than that. This isn’t some math problem in an exam u didn’t get right.. peoples lost their homes over this… family members from sucide etc. he doesn’t seem to fully grasp what happened outside his direct world.

    • @alanb9443
      @alanb9443 Місяць тому +1

      Sorry that’s was auto correct, I meant to say he was narcissistic.

    • @sluglife9785
      @sluglife9785 Місяць тому +7

      Arguably people like that are more likely to end up in government, as it exists. If you were deeply affected by the results of your actions as a minister, you'd have a great deal of difficulty acting at all. I often think of it with the Police. Sensitive people don't become cops, because how can you live with yourself taking these giant interventions in other people's lives?

    • @InsanitiesBrother
      @InsanitiesBrother Місяць тому

      What he did didn't actually have much effect. It's more media stuff than actual long term economic damage. What he did 'sounds bad' and is a good attack from a political perspective. But in the grand scheme of Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis... his budget did next to nothing. You could argue it was less than Gordon selling our gold for instance.

    • @user-uf4rx5ih3v
      @user-uf4rx5ih3v 23 дні тому

      @@sluglife9785 Being sensitive and having morals have nothing to do with each other. This man is not particularly emotional, he is also morally deficient and an idiot. He got in government because he was well connected.

  • @lachd2261
    @lachd2261 Місяць тому +41

    When I listened to this, I did hear someone who was thoughtful and intelligent, as well as apologetic, but at the same time strangely disconnected from the terrible impact of the policy he implemented.

    • @TheYoungVeganUK
      @TheYoungVeganUK Місяць тому +7

      I didn't hear someone who was apologetic at all

    • @lighting7508
      @lighting7508 Місяць тому +3

      idk where youre getting apologetic from chief

    • @herewegoo2677
      @herewegoo2677 Місяць тому

      Agreed, he wasn't apologetic. He agreed that he made mistakes, yet he's unable to say, "I am sorry, I am idiot who toyed with the lives of 60 million people." He will never be apologetic because he's an egotistical etonian who doesn't care

    • @accountnamewithheld
      @accountnamewithheld 28 днів тому

      "Fuck their pensions"

    • @user-uf4rx5ih3v
      @user-uf4rx5ih3v 23 дні тому +1

      When you say intelligent, what do you mean? It's quite clear to me he has no emotional intelligence, nor does he have any common sense, or much understanding of the UK economy. Perhaps you mean well-read? Sure he is, so what?

  • @charlespilgrim9318
    @charlespilgrim9318 Місяць тому +4

    One of the best podcasts to date

  • @stephengreen6683
    @stephengreen6683 Місяць тому +9

    I got through this interview and at the end, upon reflection, it was the word WOW! that kept coming to mind.
    Total lack of empathy for the seriousness of the impact of his actions, all just a game and every time he backed a candidate for leadership was based on who he thought would win.
    A fantastic insight into why conservatives need to be ejected on the 4th July

  • @susanbaker7282
    @susanbaker7282 28 днів тому +2

    Intelligent without any feelings nothing will affect this man. Thank goodness he was stopped

  • @benrevell6208
    @benrevell6208 Місяць тому +10

    intellect ≠ competence

  • @fateenshareef8716
    @fateenshareef8716 Місяць тому +4

    It was a great episode to watch for me as non-Brit, but I can't blame the brits in the comment section abusing and seething at him. This is the man who single handedly spiked their mortgage rates. Doing the crazy things, he knew were crazy because he wanted the top job.

  • @AM-gy5xg
    @AM-gy5xg Місяць тому +38

    Thanks for my morgage costs going up not voting Tory ever

  • @StopTheRot
    @StopTheRot 24 дні тому +5

    The reason I’m NOT voting Conservative is populism. I hate this right wing BS: it’s so patronising.

  • @fplyerbs5251
    @fplyerbs5251 Місяць тому +32

    Alistair flippantly moving away from the Iraq war... Almost joking about it... disgusting!

    • @PermaBear-bi9jk
      @PermaBear-bi9jk Місяць тому +3

      The brass neck on him to be constantly accusing other people of lying is extraordinary too…

  • @davebryant7114
    @davebryant7114 Місяць тому +52

    fascinating, he came across far more human, likeable and interesting than I had expected.

    • @Brokout
      @Brokout Місяць тому +6

      We don’t need those traits in a public servant, we just need them to not ruin the country. Judge someone by their record, not how interesting they are in an interview

    • @gdwe1831
      @gdwe1831 Місяць тому

      ​@Brokout whilst I agree with you, I don't think we practice what we preach

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

  • @nickbarton3191
    @nickbarton3191 Місяць тому +7

    Kwateng, although obviously intelligent, showed an incredible lack of judgement on hitching himself to Truss. She is a fruit loop, that was obvious years ago. A rational PM would have reined him in, and conceived feasible plan. What they seemed to do was blurt out perhaps their final objective, rather than step-wise moves. Who doesn't want lower taxes, but that has to go in hand with a growing economy. Their reasoning that low taxation of itself causes a growing economy, is incredibly naive.

  • @piccalillipit9211
    @piccalillipit9211 Місяць тому +5

    *WE WERE GOING 150MPH* yeah, the wrong way up the motorway on your phone whilst pissed....!!!

  • @andypicken7848
    @andypicken7848 21 день тому

    Gents thank you for making this available.
    I had no idea how how intersting as well as entertaining this man is.
    A really good informative podcaste

  • @stuartmcloughlin
    @stuartmcloughlin Місяць тому +1

    Great interview chaps. Glued from start to finish. As usual.

  • @lynxo5695
    @lynxo5695 Місяць тому +2

    Absolute fascinating discussion. Really enjoyed it 👏 👏 👏

  • @gammamaster1894
    @gammamaster1894 Місяць тому +1

    Very interesting interview, I'd enjoy more of this kind.

  • @nw988
    @nw988 Місяць тому +5

    Good afternoon gentlemen!

  • @jamesbrodrickmusic9567
    @jamesbrodrickmusic9567 Місяць тому +39

    This guy is so used to hanging out with wronguns he has lost all perspective. Seems he has no idea how awful he sounds

  • @lakedistrict9450
    @lakedistrict9450 Місяць тому +35

    Does he have a fearsome intellect? He’s learned some Etonian phrases, but clearly lacking qualities needed for public service.

    • @odin3158
      @odin3158 Місяць тому +8

      he does -- otherwise he wouldn't have topped his classes (as here described by a classmate of his). I don't know what 'lacking qualities needed for public service' has to do with intellect.

    • @lakedistrict9450
      @lakedistrict9450 Місяць тому

      @@odin3158 Are the classes he topped a measure of fearsome intellect? Doesn’t seem so in the light of his poor judgment when in high office. Intelligence is one element of public service is it not?

    • @odin3158
      @odin3158 Місяць тому +4

      @@lakedistrict9450 being at the top of your class in eton and cambridge is a more accurate measure of intelligence than your (in)ability to perform in public office. He obviously failed engaged in the latter, but there are different qualities necessary to excel.

    • @lakedistrict9450
      @lakedistrict9450 Місяць тому +1

      @@odin3158 I understand the distinction you are making. Would you conclude that that being top of one’s class at Eaton, and a humanities degree is not a reliable indicator for the workplace?

    • @odin3158
      @odin3158 Місяць тому +4

      @@lakedistrict9450 Yes. However that wasn't the original question, it was concerned specifically with his 'fearsome intellect'. I dont't want to argue semantics however -- if your last reply was what you were initially intending i'll apologize for unnecessarily splitting hairs.

  • @tobyjaffe270
    @tobyjaffe270 24 дні тому +1

    Kwasi mentioning that New Labour was an influence on his entering politics was fascinating and does sort of put Campbell in a little bit of a bind. He is not entirely innocent here in terms of the degradation of politics since the late 20th century.

  • @dsjwhite
    @dsjwhite Місяць тому +1

    This has been amazing. All my preconceptions are wrong. Thank you for this insight. I'm still confused.

  • @josyms7849
    @josyms7849 Місяць тому +28

    No experience of the real world

  • @samuelmelton8353
    @samuelmelton8353 Місяць тому +19

    He backed Brexit, Johnson, Truss - does he ever make the right decisions?

  • @kwabenaakuamoa9897
    @kwabenaakuamoa9897 Місяць тому +18

    Interesting conversation. It’s refreshing to witness past politicians share their experiences so candidly. Case in point: Rory’s experience of Liz Truss as a manager/leader. As always, Kwasi Kwarteng provides frank, rational and pragmatic insights on modern politics. I look forward to reading his future books.

  • @jaexiusnem1267
    @jaexiusnem1267 Місяць тому +6

    30:25 ‘they started to spend a lot more money’ yes, and? New labour had many problems but spending more money was not one of them, yet unsurprisingly Kwarteng acts like this is on par with the illegal Iraq war.

  • @arthursattler2344
    @arthursattler2344 26 днів тому

    This was a brilliant episode!

  • @thomasoroarke7789
    @thomasoroarke7789 28 днів тому

    He is really good speaker .He explains things really well

  • @maryconnor6173
    @maryconnor6173 5 днів тому

    Really enjoyed this discussion. Kwarteng is interesting and very engaging. Surprised by Rory’s comment that they select people for the pod that they admire - George Osborne? I thought they both despised him and his politics.

  • @mikekaaks8501
    @mikekaaks8501 Місяць тому +2

    I loved Kwasi's couple / few uses of "its the vibe" - memories of that great Aussie movie The Castle

  • @tonybenson8303
    @tonybenson8303 Місяць тому

    What a great discussion, thank you

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

  • @andal7404
    @andal7404 21 день тому +1

    You knew what Boris was really like all along. That's unforgivable.

  • @TheYoungVeganUK
    @TheYoungVeganUK Місяць тому +8

    I work in medical testing. Because of brexit, directly, we can no longer get malaria testing kits. Staff have left the country, supplies cost more and are severely delayed. Brexit has definitely changed things for the worse.

  • @MrJTB606
    @MrJTB606 Місяць тому

    Listening to this man makes my skin crawl.

  • @jeremyquantrill4137
    @jeremyquantrill4137 Місяць тому

    Brilliant interview, thank you.

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

  • @tisFrancesfault
    @tisFrancesfault Місяць тому +17

    By all means an Interesting interview. Kwarteng does come off as the type of person that I would love to talk with; though ultimately not the kind of person I'd like to see in a Great office of state. Again though, The idea that Truss and Kwarteng were responsible for the issues following the budget is overly simple. Fiscal conditions at the time were already pushing UK pension funds to a degree of crisis, and that would have played out regardless.
    Truss and Kwarteng Budget was much like throwing a jerry can into an already burning building. Not helpful, but not the cause.

    • @bakerbaker4455
      @bakerbaker4455 Місяць тому +3

      Well, not really. Thier brand of econimics is outdated and innefective, they also didnt actually know where they were going to get the money to pay for unfunded tax cuts. It was completly inevitable what would happen, which is why the did everything they could to avoid scrutiny before the budget. It was a purely ideoligical move and it was incredibly grim.

    • @tisFrancesfault
      @tisFrancesfault Місяць тому

      @@bakerbaker4455 This is conflation of separate factors. In many respects it stems from the BoE QT in 22 onwards, and the Impact of that on LDIs with pension funds with respect to liquidity and margin calls,.
      pension funds not typically being fully funned rely on LDIs etc and venerable to the bond markets, and the leveraging of said bonds. Even before the MB, they were having to liquidate Gilts for cash.
      (Its kinda funny cos high yield rate gilts are typically good* for pensions. ...if not leveraged)
      All the other crap of the MB, exacerbated not caused. Again BoE was planning on selling more gilts, the Gov was planning on selling gilts all at a time when the market was already dumping gilts. Basically it was a sideshow.
      Not to defend the MB at all. Though the real stupidity of that was it was striving to be growth based, which during a inflationary crisis ...would/was an interesting approach. (read: Dumb approach)
      In short, bad policy, implemented at a worse time, thus terrible result.

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

  • @ajw9533
    @ajw9533 Місяць тому +19

    How the hell could he work with Johnson after his picaninny comment? No dignity at all.

    • @PermaBear-bi9jk
      @PermaBear-bi9jk Місяць тому +1

      It may shock you to discover that jibes and jokes about skin colour and race are not exclusively said by white people…

    • @stevenhodgson4227
      @stevenhodgson4227 14 днів тому

      He's the whitest black man we've seen, to paraphrase Gaddafi's remark to Obama.

  • @grantleymorgan8996
    @grantleymorgan8996 Місяць тому +2

    Interesting that we found 4 characteristics for PMs: intellect, experience, temperament, moral compass. If we can move voters to valuing these over ideology and charisma, we'll be far better placed for the next 12 years than the past 14.

  • @rocket69218
    @rocket69218 16 днів тому

    I didn't think I even wanted to watch this one... but it was very interesting.

  • @AB-gi3qy
    @AB-gi3qy Місяць тому +2

    I enjoyed listening to this, you should have more people on who you dont necessarily agree with, otherwise you risk turning into an echo chamber.

  • @Schmexxy
    @Schmexxy 25 днів тому

    imagine giving this guy the time of day

  • @christopherhutchinson6101
    @christopherhutchinson6101 Місяць тому +13

    So mini budget was made and thought at end of announcement was MMMM LETS SEE! and it was the people of this country which suffered on a Lets see. These are the Conservative politicians today and how they operate. We are in such a mess, no wonder.

    • @InsanitiesBrother
      @InsanitiesBrother Місяць тому +1

      How are people so disenengious... The 'hmmm let's see' was his thought on how the rest of the house was going to take the announcement. He even elaborated and said how some people seemed shocked in a good way and some in a bad. The context is clearly that he didn't know if the house was going to overall support it or hate it.
      Even the question was about how he read the room.
      You and many others are why our politics are so shite. Someone could say they like the colour red and you would go "OH MY GOD, YOU LIKE SEEING BLOODY MASSACARES"

    • @user-uf4rx5ih3v
      @user-uf4rx5ih3v 23 дні тому

      @@InsanitiesBrother I think you just argued against yourself, my guy. How are you going in with a budget proposal that your own fucking party might not even support?

  • @Timehasfallenasleep
    @Timehasfallenasleep Місяць тому +2

    I think Rory’s critique of Liz Truss was spot on. But Rory and Alistair were too easy on Kwasi who was patently out of his depth as Chancellor. The big take away from this interview is what useless people our leaders are.

  • @xf9068
    @xf9068 17 днів тому

    Its unbecoming for a politician to talk about Government policies to another politician; extraordinarily candid insight into how it is in Westminster

  • @bradwhiteuk
    @bradwhiteuk Місяць тому +3

    Kwasi appeared to believe himself disconnected in some way from the damage he is so deeply responsible for. I think he not only lacks judgement, but also seems unwilling to acknowledge that there IS such a thing as good judgement. Politics is a game to him, and he knows he lost, but he seems vague on the real-world consequences of his defeat.

  • @rossa809
    @rossa809 Місяць тому

    Excellent interview

  • @shimrodson5443
    @shimrodson5443 Місяць тому

    Great interview

  • @happychappy7115
    @happychappy7115 Місяць тому +2

    It's all a big game for Eton boys😢

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

    • @KevenHutchinson-gt1nn
      @KevenHutchinson-gt1nn 24 дні тому

      Alister didn't go to Eton.

  • @user-ws2ip5qe5o
    @user-ws2ip5qe5o 18 днів тому

    He is "like" the villain you end up liking more than the hero.

  • @hudsonfrempong224
    @hudsonfrempong224 Місяць тому

    Brilliant interview

  • @asherrevises8601
    @asherrevises8601 Місяць тому +8

    Fully agree, Liz truss is an unserious person

  • @nlewin5072
    @nlewin5072 21 день тому

    I didn't want to watch this, such is my antipathy towards him and Truss for their wacko arrogance, but eventually I succumbed.
    One of the most engaging, open, and entertaining guests you've ever had. It was also a reminder of how we should be careful who we elect as politicians. Not once did he talk about people and their lives -the people and lives he was making decisions about, it was all theory and ideology. I got the imression that it's just a big pissing contest as to who can leave office with the most impressive stats for growth, GPD, interest rates and all the othe bollocks that they are consumed with.
    This was a great episode of Leading.

  • @akeandersson2672
    @akeandersson2672 Місяць тому

    Extremely interesting.

  • @Symbioticism
    @Symbioticism 22 дні тому +2

    I really came away from this interview thinking Kwasi is a jerk: friendly and amiable, but totally lacking in moral fibre.

  • @indexfinisher
    @indexfinisher Місяць тому

    Really enjoyed this interview, very insightful. So much so I came back to listen to it again and had difficulty finding it, only realising it's not on the Rest is politics page but Leading..... why?

  • @colinbrigham8253
    @colinbrigham8253 Місяць тому

    Thank 😢you for being so open for

    • @acheampongkf
      @acheampongkf Місяць тому

      He pronounces his name incorrectly. Its pronounced Kwehsi (its an A but quickly overtaken by an E sound and its an S, not a Z)

  • @odin3158
    @odin3158 Місяць тому +3

    You mistranslated 'Victrix causa deis placuit, sed victa Catoni'. 'The victorious cause pleased the gods, but the defeated cause pleased cato'. It is a phrase used in a situation in which ones fundamental principles are correct, but one still fails due to (random) cirumstance. As such it is not a reference to brexit, but rather to his mini-budget.

  • @rolanddlr1583
    @rolanddlr1583 7 днів тому

    this was such a good interview...

  • @erongi233
    @erongi233 Місяць тому +33

    Another inter Old Etonian discussion , yet another Old Etonian. So well connected,so exclusive ,so annoying to the rest . It is like nation is colonised by a very ,very small elite who all know one another and decide things in discussions between themselves most often behind closed doors decade after decade, century after century.

    • @KevenHutchinson-gt1nn
      @KevenHutchinson-gt1nn 24 дні тому

      Blister didn't go to Eaten

    • @erongi233
      @erongi233 24 дні тому

      @@KevenHutchinson-gt1nn Kwatang and Rory Stewart went to Eton.

    • @KevenHutchinson-gt1nn
      @KevenHutchinson-gt1nn 23 дні тому

      @@erongi233 Yes, but Alister didn't.

    • @erongi233
      @erongi233 23 дні тому

      @@KevenHutchinson-gt1nn 2 is outrageous but 3 out of 3 would be extreme coincidence gone far too extreme even for Old Etonian dominance.

  • @alexm7310
    @alexm7310 Місяць тому

    Really interesting / entertaining and very enjoyable. Useful to hear the rationale behind the mini budget - growth, and breaking out of the doom loop. Lack of growth is a problem - what will be the solution?

    • @KevenHutchinson-gt1nn
      @KevenHutchinson-gt1nn 24 дні тому

      Well, Rachel Reeves has been on recently and has put me at ease, and has the answer. We need to grow the economy to get growth.

  • @adamcourtenay
    @adamcourtenay Місяць тому +5

    £150bn of spending commitments at a time of the energy crisis after the pandemic just absolutely spooked the markets. Britain was exporting over 10% of our electricity production to france who had a much more aggressive energy cap. the serious plan should have been to force France to drop the anti-competitive cap or we'd block energy exports - even if we compensated for loss of profit at the interconnect it'd have been far cheaper than subsidising everyone's energy bill

    • @fatfreelondon
      @fatfreelondon Місяць тому

      When Kwateng blows £150bn, he's a hero of the right. When Corbyn does it, he's a hero of the left.
      Takeout: spending makes you a hero, but ends badly

    • @MachivelianBear
      @MachivelianBear Місяць тому

      And how do you see that going? The British can’t force France to do shit.

    • @adamcourtenay
      @adamcourtenay Місяць тому

      @@MachivelianBear we should not have been exporting energy to France who were not playing by free market rules - and that goes for Germany and Spain too. British pensioners should not have been suffering so that Macron could heat his pool on the cheap whilst mining bitcoin

    • @MachivelianBear
      @MachivelianBear Місяць тому

      @@adamcourtenay yes France is in the EU. A Nice protectionist market. Something the UK voted to get out off. Best regards from Denmark:)

    • @doghat1619
      @doghat1619 24 дні тому +1

      @@MachivelianBear well we couldn't force france to do shit whilst in the EU anyway, it's all just a wash

  • @garrybynon6080
    @garrybynon6080 21 день тому

    how he talks to his fellow peers and how he spoke to the public, just a game to him, to all of that cabinet

  • @kathrynhatton7851
    @kathrynhatton7851 Місяць тому

    Alistair, you were so right to be depressed at the school girls view of politics, but here is the reason why.

  • @dean8282
    @dean8282 28 днів тому +1

    Are those people who had £500 increase on mortgages laughing?

  • @TonyTsobanis
    @TonyTsobanis Місяць тому +4

    Kwasi talks about this tax problem being something complicated. Its not, tax the super wealthy and ensure companies pay their fair share, then you will have to enough to cover your public outgoings. Why is this never on the table?

    • @lukeskywalker8543
      @lukeskywalker8543 Місяць тому

      High tax=companies leave

    • @TonyTsobanis
      @TonyTsobanis Місяць тому

      @@lukeskywalker8543 I did not say high tax, I said fair share. Companies use all sorts of loop holes to avoid paying the normal rates the world over. Close the loop holes.

    • @lighting7508
      @lighting7508 Місяць тому

      @@TonyTsobanis close the loop holes = companies leave. Horrible but true.

  • @kiriakoz
    @kiriakoz Місяць тому +5

    I like how none of these people can admit they were financed by dark money and shady lobbyists rather just making an accidental error.
    Of course it is often incompetence but more often than that, it’s corruption.

  • @mcode
    @mcode Місяць тому

    insightful

  • @LaurenceGill2000
    @LaurenceGill2000 Місяць тому

    Alastair will absolutely be remembered for the Iraq war not election wins or Northern Ireland

  • @moarguitars6322
    @moarguitars6322 Місяць тому +2

    Rorys face at 31:54 is golden

    • @Zebedee777
      @Zebedee777 Місяць тому

      I love his facial expressions. Genuinely think it’s a large part of why I like him 🤣🤣🤣🤣