Paul Boateng began his political career as MP for Brent South in April 1987 and remained their MP until standing down in 2005 when he was appointed High Commissioner for South Africa. Jonathan Yeo is a self-taught artist having received no formal training. His first commission was to paint Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, founder of the Anti-Apartheid movement, in 1993. Yeo was also commissioned by the House of Commons to paint the 2001 Election portrait 'Proportional Representation'. The portrait of Boateng was commissioned as part of a project to commemorate Diane Abbott as Britain's first ever black female MP and Paul Boateng as the first black cabinet Minister. There was debate over whether Boateng would wear his trademark pinstripe suit or his preferred African collarless suit, it was decided that the exact dress and location be left ambiguous.