Boris Johnson’s former race adviser says Truss would not be PM without diversity scheme

Samuel Kasumu left No 10 more than a year ago in response to the government’s racial disparity report. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

A former race adviser to Boris Johnson who is standing to be Conservative candidate for mayor of London has defended the role of diversity schemes, saying Liz Truss would not be prime minister had it not been for such a scheme.

Samuel Kasumu said the Tory party’s “A-list” of priority candidates, championed by then leader David Cameron, was instrumental in catapulting Truss into No 10.