Samuel Kasumu, the most senior Black adviser to U.K Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has resigned from his post.
What We Know:
- Kasumu resigned just one day after a recent report on racial disparities concluded that Britain does not have a systemic problem with racism. Systemic racism is defined as racism resulting from the inherent biases and prejudices of the policies and practices of social and political organizations, groups, or institutions. Activists and academics alike have accused the U.K Government of ignoring the experiences of ethnic-minority Britons. Simon Woolley believes Kasumu’s exit was connected to the report and called it “divisive.”
- Woolley was a former government equalities adviser and member of the U.K House of Lords. According to the prime minister’s office, Kasumu had planned to leave his job for several months. Additionally, they deny Kasumu’s resignation had anything to do with the report Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. Kasumu had previously considered in February and even wrote a resignation letter which was obtained by BBC. He was convinced to temporarily stay and work on a campaign encouraging people from ethnic minorities to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
- The report, headed by Johnson’s Conservative Party, claims that race was becoming “less important” as a factor in creating disparities that are fueled by class and family backgrounds. Scientists disagree and claim the report ignored factors such as poverty, class, and race in creating inequality. Britons from Black African and Black Caribbean backgrounds die from COVID-19 at more than twice the rate as their white counterparts. A report released last June revealed that the mortality rate among black men was the highest at 255 deaths per 100,000 people in the United Kingdom.
- Kasumu previously discussed tension with Downing Street over race, and his original reason for resigning was due to fears that conservatives are pushing a divisive agenda. Prime Minister Johnson thanked the former adviser for his work and contributions to ramp up vaccine efforts. Johnson further stated, “It is true that different groups have been coming forward at different paces, everybody is increasing their take-ups, so I thank him very much for that.”
Kasumu will officially leave his position in May after informing a colleague of his resignation on Wednesday. There aren’t currently any confirmed reports on Kasumu’s next pursuits in U.K politics.
