“Absolutely, 100%” replied Kwasi Kwarteng on Thursday when asked if he would still be the Chancellor by next month.
Fast-forward less than 24 hours and Mr Kwarteng was already the ex-Chancellor.
He had been in the job just 38 days, the second-shortest time ever spent in the post behind Iain Mcleod, who died in office in 1970.
Kwarteng’s ill-fated words came in New York where he was meeting the International Monetary Fund.
Despite the economic turmoil in Britain, he raised eyebrows as he confidently declared he was safe in the second-most-powerful job in the land.
“I am going nowhere,” he remarked.
But, although he didn’t know it, he was going somewhere... fast.
This morning, he was en route back to No10, summoned by a PM already planning a screeching a U-turn on the mini-Budget that had spooked the markets and trashed the Tories’ poll ratings.
At 1.03pm he confirmed he had been sacked and posted a letter to the PM on social media.
It read: “You have asked me to stand aside as your Chancellor. I have accepted.”
In return, Ms Truss replied: “As a long-standing friend and colleague I am deeply sorry to lose you from the Government.”
Despite giving him no choice but to go, she bafflingly added: “I deeply respect the decision you have taken today”.
Minutes later cameras caught Mr Kwarteng leaving Downing Street – where he had moved in just over a month ago.
Shortly before Ms Truss appeared at a news conference to try and explain away a day rapidly descending into farce, Deputy PM Therese Coffey had sent all Tory MPs an invite to a Zoom call in an attempt to shore up support for Mr Kwarteng.
It was reported that less than a third of members logged in.
One ex-cabinet minister told The Mirror: “She got rid of a Chancellor even though she agreed with everything he did.
“She abruptly ended the press conference and ran away.
“It’s difficult to see how she can build up any confidence in her leadership.” Despite an extraordinary and brutal day, the psychodrama is far from over with Ms Truss looking increasingly likely to be following her unfortunate Chancellor out of Downing Street and into obscurity.
The pair, long-time friends, became close political allies when both entered Parliament in 2010.
Speaking before Mr Kwarteng became chancellor, one friend said he and Truss were “a bit like Batman and Robin”, adding: “They are both slight social misfits, amiable geeks, and have strong views which are in tune with each other.”
Kwarteng, 47, whose parents came from Ghana, was educated at Eton ad Cambridge and became the first black Tory cabinet minister last year.
In his mini-Budget he pledged: “Home ownership is the most common route for people to own an asset, giving them a stake in the success of our economy and society.
“So to support growth, increase confidence, and help families aspiring to own their own home, I can announce that we are cutting stamp duty.”
However, the £45billion package of unfunded tax cuts sent financial markets into turmoil. Interest rates soared and the pound plummeted, forcing a £65billion intervention by the Bank of England.
Matters were not helped when the Chancellor was spotted at a champagne reception with bankers hours after slashing the top rate of income tax. He later admitted it “probably wasn’t the best idea”.
After his Budget turmoil, around 40% of mortgages were withdrawn leaving many buyers in limbo.
When deals arrived back on the market, costs had soared, with some two-year fixed deals reaching 6% for the first time since the crisis of 2008.
Later today new Chancellor Hunt, the fourth in little over three months, met the PM. He remained deadpan and silent as reporters yelled questions as he left No 10.
In an attempt to sum up the last 24, Ed Miliband reshared David Cameron ’s infamous 2015 tweet warning the country faced a choice between himself as Prime Minister or “chaos” with the then Labour leader.
Mr Miliband accompanied the tweet with a clown emoji.
There have been four chancellors so far this year. Rishi Sunak held the post between February 13, 2020 and July 5, 2022 before being replaced by Nadim Zahawi, who lasted from July 5 until September 6.
Kwasi Kwarteng's stint was event shorter, lasting from Septemeber 6 until today before being replaced by Jeremy Hunt, former health secretary, this afternoon.
