Sajid Javid's Candid Memoir Exposes Turbulent Youth and Political Journey
In a remarkably frank new memoir, former Conservative cabinet minister Sajid Javid reveals how his teenage years nearly derailed into a life of petty crime before he transformed his fortunes to reach the highest echelons of British politics. The publication of The Colour of Home provides unprecedented insight into the childhood experiences that shaped one of Westminster's most prominent figures.
A Sliding Doors Moment in a Police Cell
At just thirteen years old, Javid found himself detained in a police station alongside his younger brother Bas after being caught red-handed cheating fruit machines at a Weston-super-Mare amusement arcade. The brothers had perfected a technique using a J-shaped wire to swindle money from slot machines, with Javid even opening a savings account to store his illicit gains.
The arcade manager's reaction was shockingly racist, shouting "you little Paki bastards" before calling the police. Both boys were arrested, held in a cell, and forced to confess their crimes. Their winnings were confiscated, and they faced the terrifying prospect of criminal charges that could have permanently altered their life trajectories.
Paternal Discipline and Second Chances
Upon returning home to Bristol, the brothers received a severe beating from their father. Two months later, when ordered to attend a police station with their father, the family faced a critical juncture. Bas should definitely have been charged, having already received a caution for theft, while Sajid could easily have faced similar consequences.
Their father, in tears, begged the police officer for leniency. The officer eventually decided to caution both boys instead of pressing charges, offering them what Javid now describes as a life-changing second chance. "I'd say thank you. You changed my life," Javid reflects when asked what he would tell that officer today.
Racism and Family Conflict
The memoir details how racism permeated Javid's childhood, from his first fight at secondary school after being called a "Paki bastard" to customers racially abusing his family at his father's shop. The prejudice came from multiple directions, including a family friend who expressed concern about Javid's brother visiting Israel because "he'll be surrounded by Jews."
Perhaps most shocking was his family's reaction to his relationship with Laura, his white Christian girlfriend who would become his wife. His parents had secretly arranged his marriage to his first cousin and told Laura's parents that marrying their son would "destroy her life." Javid's horror at this betrayal remains undiminished decades later.
Brutal Beatings and Complex Father-Son Relationship
Javid describes his father's beatings as brutal and abusive, with the worst incident occurring when his older brother Tariq falsely accused him of theft. His father attacked him with a leather shoe and vacuum cleaner, hitting his arms, legs, stomach, and face.
"There were moments of rage. It could be a shoe or a stick," Javid recalls. "As a kid, I thought I'm never going to do this to my kids because look how it makes me feel. I hate it. I just hate it." Despite this violence, Javid acknowledges their mutual love and his father's later remorse, with his father eventually begging for forgiveness before his death in 2012.
From Banking to Politics and Disillusionment
After studying economics and politics at the University of Essex, Javid embarked on a highly lucrative banking career before entering politics in 2009. He rose rapidly through Conservative ranks, holding multiple cabinet positions including Home Secretary, Chancellor, and Health Secretary.
However, his political career was marked by frustration and eventual disillusionment. He resigned twice from Boris Johnson's government - first as Chancellor when Dominic Cummings demanded he dismiss his special advisers, and later as Health Secretary over Partygate lies. "I thought, if I didn't have confidence in the prime minister, I can't work honestly with integrity for the government," he explains.
Reflections on Leadership and Social Division
Javid admits he wanted to become Prime Minister and stood for the leadership in 2019, finishing fourth behind Boris Johnson. He believes his economic expertise and lived experience of social challenges would have made him better equipped for the role than his competitors.
Today, he expresses concern about rising right-wing populism and social division, warning that mismanagement of immigration, cost of living pressures, and social media extremism risk creating "a tinderbox of disconnection and division" in Britain. "Unless we find ways to defuse it, the basis of our democracy is at risk," he cautions.
A Story of Transformation and Hope
The memoir comes full circle with a poignant moment in 2019 when Javid, as Home Secretary, presented his brother Bas with his graduation certificate from the College of Policing's Strategic Command Course. Their mother remarked, "If only your dad was here now. Look what you two were doing before."
Javid describes his book as "a story that hopefully will motivate others, particularly those born on the wrong side of the tracks." While insisting it's not a political work, the memoir serves as both an intimate childhood recollection and a parable of social mobility against considerable odds.
