Samuel Kasumu

Last updated
Samuel Kasumu
Alma mater Brunel University of London
Occupation(s)commentator, special adviser
Website samuelkasumu.co.uk

Samuel Kasumu is a British politician, commentator and former special adviser.

Contents

Early life and education

Kasumu was born in St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and grew up in Barnet. [1] Kasumu studied accounting and finance at Brunel University. [2]

Career

Kasumu came to prominence as a campaigner and entrepreneur. [3] He was a member of trustees including Elevation Networks. [2] He is co-founder of Inclusive Boards which promotes diversity in the workplace. [4] He was a Community Engagement Advisory board member for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He stood for London Conservatives in Croydon North in the 2017 general election. [5] He came in second place behind Steve Reed. [6]

Samuel Kasumu worked as special adviser in the Conservative government, joining in 2019 when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. From 2019 to 2021, he was the most senior Black advisor in the Prime Minister's Office. [7] He specialised in policies on civil society and communities. [8] He was involved in the COVID-19 vaccination programme. [9]

In 2021, Kasumu resigned after disagreements surrounding a government-commissioned report on racial issues. [10] He accused the Conservative Party of pursuing "a politics steeped in division". [11] [12] Kasumu was a Conservative Party member of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. [13] Kasumu stood to be the Conservative candidate in the 2024 London mayoral election. [14] [15] He announced his candidacy in October 2022. [16] He was endorsed by leading politicians including Steve Baker, Grant Shapps, Priti Patel and Nadine Dorries. [17] [18] [19] He was also endorsed by the father of Damilola Taylor. [20] He campaigned opposing the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion. [21] He was not longlisted and Susan Hall was chosen instead. [22]

Kasumu is a regular panellist on shows including Question Time, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and BBC Politics Live.

Personal life

Kasumu is married. [23] They lived in Laindon. [24] He is Christian. [25]

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Kasumu, Samuel (2022-09-08). "Samuel Kasumu: Why I am standing to be the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London". Conservative Home. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  2. 1 2 "Samuel Kasumu: Taking the Lead (Black History Month Keynote Lecture)". Imperial College London. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  3. ↑ Holloway, Lester (2022-11-01). "London is the place for me". Voice Online. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  4. ↑ "About us". Inclusive Boards. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  5. ↑ Dyer, Lucy (2017-06-20). "Croydon North Conservative candidate Samuel Kasumu unlikely to run again | SWLondoner". South West Londoner. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  6. ↑ Ballinger, Chris (2017-06-09). "General election 2017 London results in full". croydonadvertiser. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  7. ↑ Guru-Murthy, Krishnan (2023-12-14). "Samuel Kasumu, Former Special Advisor to Boris Johnson, on culture wars in government and being a Tory". Channel 4 News. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  8. ↑ "Johnson's top black adviser quits as race report backlash intensifies". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  9. ↑ Simons, Ned (2021-04-01). "Boris Johnson's Most Senior Black Adviser Samuel Kasumu Quits". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  10. ↑ "Samuel Kasumu: PM's adviser quits amid row over race report". BBC News. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  11. ↑ "PM's minority adviser Samuel Kasumu offered to quit over 'division'". BBC News. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  12. ↑ "Ex-Tory aide says Robert Jenrick 'more dangerous' than Elon Musk". The National. 2025-01-05. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  13. ↑ "Hatfield councillor quits role as PM's ethnic minority adviser". Welwyn Hatfield Times. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  14. ↑ "Access Restricted". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  15. ↑ "Samuel Kasumu interview: the outsider". Politics Home. 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  16. ↑ Kasumu, Samuel (2022-09-08). "Samuel Kasumu: Why I am standing to be the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London". Conservative Home. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  17. ↑ City A.M. (25 April 2023). "Tory heavyweights endorse former Boris Johnson adviser to run for London mayor". City A.M. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  18. ↑ Comfi, Amy (15 May 2023). "Two ex-Ministers of the Cabinet endorse Tory's campaign for London mayor". Central Recorder. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  19. ↑ "Mayor of London: Samuel Kasumu endorsed by senior Tories". 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  20. ↑ France, Anthony (2022-10-03). "Former Boris adviser endorsed by Richard Taylor as Tory mayoral candidate". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  21. ↑ Hope, Christopher (24 April 2023). "Ex-Boris Johnson adviser becomes Tory frontrunner for London mayor Samuel Kasumu backed by series of senior Conservatives as he vows to take on Sadiq Khan and his Ulez expansion". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  22. ↑ Riding, James (17 January 2022). "Q+A: Samuel Kasumu, the London mayoral candidate going all in on housing". React News. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  23. ↑ "Welwyn Hatfield: London Mayor hopeful Cllr Samuel Kasumu talks London housing". Welwyn Hatfield Times. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  24. ↑ Vickers, Noah (2023-05-12). "Tory mayoral hopeful: 'I was priced out of buying in London'". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  25. ↑ "#ELLection: I want to make a difference, says Croydon's young Tory hopeful – Eastlondonlines". www.eastlondonlines.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  26. ↑ "Hatfield councillor pens book on his time in Boris Johnson's Government". Welwyn Hatfield Times. 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
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