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