Described as “incredibly bright, borderline eccentric and very Thatcherite”, Kwasi Kwarteng has been MP for Spelthorne in Surrey, since 2010.

Born in London to Ghanaian parents, Kwasi Kwarteng excelled academically – he was an Eton scholar, got a double first from Cambridge University and a scholarship to Harvard.

He’s worked as a newspaper columnist, a financial analyst and has written several books on history and politics.

Kwasi Kwarteng is a long-time friend and close political ally of the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, who’s just promoted him to the top post in the Treasury. At a time of high inflation, rising energy costs and a looming recession. So is he up to the challenge?

Mark Coles charts the life and career of the man with one of the most powerful jobs in the UK.

Presenter: Mark Coles Production team: Sally Abrahams and Matt Toulson, Maria Ogundele and Helena Warwick-Cross Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

Credit: Sky News – Anna Jones interview with Kwasi Kwarteng, 5 August 2022