The former UK chancellor tells the story of his upbringing as the son of Punjabi immigrants, navigating poverty, racism and the tensions of straddling two cultures in 1970s Britain. Javid reflects how these early challenges forged his resilience and shaped his path from adversity to a position at the heart of British public life.

“Run, Paki, Run”, the words ricocheted off the walls of the Rochdale underpass that connected Sajid Javid’s home and primary school. As a five-year-old boy, he had learned that 70s Britain could be a cruel and violent place for those seen as outsiders.

Leaving behind the devastation of partition, Sajid’s father moved from Punjab to the UK in the 60s, the family held on to many of their Indo-Pakistani traditions, setting them apart and often leading to rejection by their new neighbours.

In this powerful memoir, Sajid Javid shares his story of a childhood marked by poverty, racism and the tension produced by trying to conform to two cultures. These led to run-ins with the police, trouble at the school and eventually the risk of estrangement from his family by defying their wish for his arranged marriage in favour of choosing the woman he loved. With each new trial, Sajid learned to dig his heels in further, speaking up for himself and stubbornly refusing to accept the limits that seemed imposed by his background.

The Colour of Home charts Sajid’s remarkable rise from adversity to the heart of British life. It is a story of hope, determination and survival- a tribute to the parents who gave everything and the brothers who struggled alongside him – and an invitation to every “outsider” to keep going and dream big.

The Colour of Home: Growing Up in 1970s Britain by Sajid Javid, Abacus.