Journalist Likens Kwasi Kwarteng’s Economic Insight To Taking ‘Social Care’ Advice From Serial Killer Harold Shipman

Scottish journalist Ayesha Hazarika ripped into former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s contribution on economic policy, saying the validity of his perspective was “like getting advice on social care from Harold Shipman.”

Hazarika drew the comparison to the infamous serial killer Shipman, known as Doctor Death, while appearing alongside Kwarteng on BBC’s Politics Live on Wednesday.

Shipman, who worked as a practising doctor, was found guilty in 2000 of murdering patients in his care. He is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in modern history, with an estimated 250 victims.

Kwarteng just finished giving his opinion, the journalist said: “Getting lectures on the economy from you guys particularly you and, of course, [former Prime Minister] Liz Truss… It’s like getting advice on social care from Harold Shipman. It really feels completely…”

The former Chancellor, the sitting Conservative MP for Spelthorne, protested the brutal commentary as the journalist continued to justify her metaphor. Other members of the panel, including host Jo Coburn winced at the comparison but did not interrupt.

“I mean, Harold Shipman,” Kwarteng said. “The metaphor, I get the point, but the metaphor is slightly inappropriate.”

Hazarika, however, continued: You guys crashed the economy, you’ve put hundreds of pounds on people’s mortgages, you probably cost your party the next General Election, you’ve gifted Labour the mantle of fiscal responsibility… So many services were hollowed out. You look at what’s happened with the police. We have got such an issue now… We’re really, really paying a price.”

Truss, under whom Kwateng served as Chancellor, is best known for having the shortest-serving Prime Minister in UK history, lasting just 49 days in late 2022. She and Kwarteng fell out of favour rapidly with Conservative peers and the British public after a calamitous “mini budget” on September 23 that alarmed financial markets, caused borrowing rates to spike, and led to a significant devaluation of the British pound. It’s estimated that UK stock and bond markets lost an estimated $500 billion in value during her time in charge.

In response to the crisis, Truss dismissed Kwarteng, appointing Jeremy Hunt as his successor. However, these measures proved insufficient to salvage her cabinet.