Sajid Javid: The Making of Modern Britain

What does it take to defy the limits others place on you? In this candid and compelling conversation, former Chancellor and Home Secretary Sajid Javid discusses his acclaimed memoir The Colour of Home, a deeply personal story of family, identity, ambition and belonging. Growing up in 1970s Rochdale as the son of a Pakistani immigrant father who arrived in Britain after Partition, Javid faced poverty, racism and the tensions of navigating two cultures long before entering the highest echelons of British politics. Tender, sharp and unexpectedly moving, this is more than a political memoir – it’s a powerful story of resilience, social mobility and finding your place in modern Britain. This event will be chaired by Parul Bavishi, co-founder of London Writers’ Salon, where she has helped more than 40,000 writers find their voice, build confidence and get words onto the page. A former editor at Random House, Quercus and Story Grid, she knows a thing or two about what makes a compelling story. She now hosts the London Writers’ Salon podcast, exploring the creative lives, challenges and breakthroughs of writers, and writes The Belonging Mirror, a Substack exploring identity and belonging. With a fascination for the journeys that shape us, the obstacles we overcome and the stories we choose to tell about ourselves, Parul brings a fresh, thoughtful and wonderfully curious perspective to this conversation with Sajid Javid about ambition, identity and finding your place in the world. Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of stories, ideas and conversation by the sea. Curated by novelist Sophie Haydock (The Flames, Madame Matisse), this year’s festival brings together more than 60 events across two weeks, welcoming world-class writers, thinkers and storytellers to Folkestone. The Festival is part of Folkestone is a Library, our ambitious town-wide celebration of reading, writing and storytelling, helping make Folkestone one of the UK’s most exciting literary destinations. We believe great conversations should be for everyone, which is why every event includes a £5 Cost of Living Ticket, available with no questions asked. Please help us spread the word. Together, we’re building a thriving community of readers, writers and curious minds. Folkestone Book Festival is proudly supported by Eurotunnel, Canterbury Christ Church University, Holiday Extras, and the Friends of Folkestone Book Festival. Creative Folkestone is supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone & Hythe District Council and Saga. Founding Funder The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.