London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026

Kwasi Kwarteng admits he and Truss 'blew it' and got 'carried away' with economic reforms

Kwasi Kwarteng admits he and Truss 'blew it' and got 'carried away' with economic reforms

The Tory MP presided over one of the most turbulent economic times in living history following his mini-budget statement, which saw Liz Truss standing down after just 44 days.

Former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has admitted he and Liz Truss "blew it" and got "carried away" with bringing in sweeping economic reforms.

The Tory MP said the low-tax, small-state plans they had were "very exciting" and he was fully behind them but accepts that the way they were executed was their downfall.

Mr Kwarteng announced his "mini" budget just 17 days after his good friend Ms Truss became PM and made him chancellor, which caused the markets to crash and him to be sacked - before Ms Truss was also forced to step down.

"It was very exciting, you felt you were part of a project," he told the FT Weekend Magazine.

As soon as she became PM, Ms Truss said she did not want any opinion polling as she felt politicians were obsessed with "optics".

Despite advisers warning her and Mr Kwarteng that their plans would be seen as a "budget for the rich", they were ignored.

Mr Kwarteng added: "People got carried away, myself included. There was no tactical subtlety whatsoever."

He still believes the goal was correct but admitted: "Where we fell woefully short was to have a tactical plan."

As the economic turmoil continued, despite the government U-turning on some of the recently announced policies, Mr Kwarteng went to IMF meetings in Washington as he did not want to cause more panic by not attending.

But he was called back early after, he and his allies believe, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case managed to persuade Ms Truss she had to reverse some of the measures to avoid economic ruin.


Mr Kwarteng was sacked by Ms Truss less than a month after the mini-budget.

When Ms Truss told him he could no longer be chancellor on 14 October, he says he told her: "I know, I've seen it on Twitter."

Mr Kwarteng said he warned her he was a "firebreak" and getting rid of him would "make her weaker, not stronger".

"She said she was doing this to save her premiership," he told the FT.

Last month, Mr Kwarteng said he and Ms Truss are still "friends".

But, he added: "My biggest regret is we weren't tactically astute and we were too impatient.

"There was a brief moment and the people in charge, myself included, blew it."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
OpenAI Faces Demands for Full Disclosure After Models Breach Hugging Face
Badenoch Offers Tory Votes to Keep Serious Offenders in Prison
Why Americans Queue for $15 Ice Cream and a $100 Caviar Pint
Another AI Genius Left the United States — and Silicon Valley Is Starting to Worry
Shein Reports $99mn Loss as Trade Barriers Test Low-Cost Model
CXMT Gains 466% in China’s Biggest IPO Since 2010
Amazon Seeks Approval for 5,105-Satellite Mobile Network
Burnham Puts School-to-Work Reform at Centre of Welfare Strategy
Johnson & Johnson Agrees to $5.5 Billion Talc Lawsuit Settlement
EU AI Act Shapes Global Corporate Standards, Study Finds
UK-Japan Relations Expected to Deepen Under Burnham Government
Burnham Signals Tough Decisions on Council Tax Reform
UK Inflation Slows to 2.6% in June
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates at 3.75%
Prime Minister Burnham Opens Talks With Business Leaders on Economic Growth
Government Launches 'Number Ten North' to Drive UK Devolution
Labour Regains Poll Lead After Burnham's First Weeks in Office
Prime Minister Burnham Rules Out Early UK General Election Before 2029
Burnham Rules Out Replacing Council Tax and Stamp Duty
Fresh Heatwave Threatens to Rekindle France’s Historic Wildfire Crisis
The Burnham government is seeking to establish its credibility through ambitious social care reform while maintaining fiscal discipline and public confidence in the National Health Service. Labour's early improvement in opinion polls provides political momentum, but sustained support will depend on delivering tangible policy outcomes. Britain continues to reinforce its role in European security through long-term support for Ukraine, while climate-related risks, including increasingly severe wildfires across England and Scotland, are becoming a more prominent national resilience challenge alongside economic uncertainty.
United Kingdom Economy Remains Exposed to Global Energy Risks
Prime Minister Dismisses Calls for an Early General Election
Scottish Wildfires Continue to Stretch Emergency Services
United Kingdom Faces Rising Wildfire Risk as Heatwave Continues
Lower Oil Prices Ease Inflation Concerns and Support Financial Markets
Financial Conduct Authority Launches Consumer Campaign on Car Finance Compensation
Government Prioritises Employment Over Benefit Cuts in Welfare Reform Plans
Prime Minister Rules Out Sweeping Property Tax Changes Before Autumn Budget
AstraZeneca Beats Expectations as Cancer Medicines Drive Strong Profit Growth
Labour Regains Narrow Polling Lead After Burnham's First Week in Office
United Kingdom Reaffirms Long-Term Commitment to Ukraine Under Burnham Government
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Makes Social Care Reform the First Major Test of His Government
Following OpenAI's Cyberattack: 'Most Companies Still Do Not Understand What Is Coming'
Autopsy Finds No Violence in Death of Epstein-Linked Model Scout
Indian Education Minister Resigns After Cockroach Youth Protests
California Desert Data-Centre Plan Stalls as Water and Power Disputes Mount
Northern Ireland Border Security Tightened After Military-Grade Explosive Interception
British Hospitality Sector Targets Summer Visitors Through Regional Promotions
England River Access Debate Intensifies After New Data Shows Limited Public Access
Royal Navy Strengthens Maritime Vigilance Amid Rising Security Concerns
UK Education Department Expands Mental Health Support for Young People Entering Work
UK Tourism Industry Launches Summer Campaigns to Boost Domestic Travel
North England Transport Plans Advance to Support Industrial Growth
Financial Markets Watch New Government’s Economic Strategy as Investors Assess Fiscal Risks
Royal Navy Continues Monitoring Russian Naval Activity Near UK Waters
UK Care Workers May Receive Immigration Exemptions Under Proposed Visa Changes
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper Begins Emergency Talks to Address NHS Staffing Shortages
UK Banks Launch High-Interest Savings Offers to Attract Household Deposits
North Sea Oil Drilling Projects Face Delays After Offshore Equipment Accident
×