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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Courtney Pochin

Kwasi Kwarteng's bold comment to tutor after Cambridge University interview

Kwasi Kwarteng, has launched his mini-budget today, which has been dubbed a 'growth plan' by the Government and includes reversing the National Insurance hike and ditching the hike in corporation tax.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer showed signs of self-confidence as he set out the Government's approach in Parliament - a handy trait for a politician to have and one that the 47-year-old has exhibited since his teenage years.

Unlike many of us who were anxiety-ridden over getting into our dream universities, Kwarteng is said to have been a bit more confident of his chances, with it being reported he made a rather bold comment to an admissions tutor at Cambridge University following his interview for Trinity College.

After studying at Eton College where he was a King's Scholar and received prestigious prizes, he attended an entrance interview at Cambridge, where he overheard the tutor confess it was his first time conducting interviews.

Kwasi Kwarteng appeared on University Challenge while at Cambridge (BBC)

Kwarteng is said to have reassured the tutor after his interview, telling him: "Oh, don't worry, sir, you did fine."

His boldness paid off and he got in to Trinity College, where he went on to read history and classics.

The new Chancellor achieved a first in both subjects and won the Browne Medal twice during his time at Cambridge as part of an annual competition in Latin and Greek poetry.

While at Cambridge, Kwarteng also appeared on University Challenge in 1995.

Aged just 19, the television appearance was rather awkward as he failed to come to the right answer and ended up swearing twice on the show.

After buzzing to answer one of the questions, he said "Oh f***, I've forgotten".

Things only got worse, as the Chancellor panicked and continued to blurt out the same expletive once more.

The episode later went on to be dubbed 'Rudeiversity Challenge'.

All was not lost, however, as Kwarteng and his pals from Trinity College Cambridge went on to be crowned champions of University Challenge later that year.

He also went on to attend the prestigious Harvard University in the US on a scholarship and gained a PhD in economic history from Cambridge.

Before being appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on September 6, 2022, Kwarteng held the position of Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in Boris Johnson's Government, following a mini-reshuffle in January 2021.

The Chancellors mini-budget today comes after he announced a cut in National Insurance from 13.25% back down to 12% - the level it was at before the hike in April.

The government is facing pressure to further address the cost of living crisis that is hitting the most vulnerable the hardest, with the budget coming on the backdrop of soaring inflation and hiked interest rates.

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