Boris Johnson’s most senior Black adviser has resigned amid the intense debate over Downing Street’s controversial report on racial disparities in the U.K.
Samuel Kasumu, who is No. 10’s special adviser for civil society and communities, informed colleagues of his decision to leave his post on Tuesday morning, two officials familiar with the conversations told POLITICO.
His internal announcement came just as the government released the findings of a review by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which the prime minister established following the Black Lives Matter protests last summer.
The report encountered heavy criticism from the Labour Party and anti-racism campaigners after it concluded that racism does exist in modern day Britain, but that Britain isn’t an institutionally racist country.
Kasumu is the No. 10 point man for outreach with minority communities and voices, and he played a key role in this week’s vaccine campaign, led by the comedian Lenny Henry, encouraging Black Britons to get the shot.
He will stay in his post until the end of May to continue his work on vaccine uptake.
Kasumu informed Downing Street Chief of Staff Dan Rosenfield of his intention to stand down last week, POLITICO is told.
His departure — and the timing of his announcement — will raise questions over the government’s ability to reach out to, and communicate with, minority groups.
In February, the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg revealed Kasumu had written to the prime minister warning that he was considering quitting over “unbearable” tensions within Downing Street, but then decided to stay on.
“I fear for what may become of the party in the future by choosing to pursue a politics steeped in division,” Kasumu wrote in his letter to the PM.
Yet Kasumu remained highly regarded by ministers and officials in government, and several — including Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi — lobbied him to stay on, POLITICO is told. He initially agreed.
But over the following weeks, Kasumu felt physically and mentally exhausted after taking a leading role in a Windrush scandal review, the race commission and the vaccine outreach initiative, said an official familiar with his thinking. He felt it was time for someone else to take over those responsibilities.
Downing Street has been approached for comment.
