To be a bit disappointed in Chuka Umunna

[Viviennemary]

I thought Chuka Umunna would be a good candidate for Labour to re-invent itself and appeal to more voters. I thought he spoke well and sincerely and was a lot better than Ed Miliband. But I read today that he lives in a £1m house reportedly funded by a Family Trust located in the tax haven of Jersey. How can ordinary folk take him and his party seriously going on about tax avoidance.

So he's dropped out of the race ... Apparently nothing to do with a negative press story that's to be published soon ...

So he inherited a house from his parents, How is this news?

Would also much prefer Yvette...

from The Guardian:

"Here is the key passage from the statement announcing his decision:

"As a member of the Shadow Cabinet, I am used to a level of attention which is part and parcel of the job. I witnessed the 2010 leadership election process close up and thought I would be comfortable with what it involved.

"However since the night of our defeat last week I have been subject to the added level of pressure that comes with being a leadership candidate.

"I have not found it to be a comfortable experience.

"One can imagine what running for leader can be like, understand its demands and the attention but nothing compares to actually doing it and the impact on the rest of one’s life.

"Consequently after further reflection I am withdrawing my candidacy.

"I apologise to all those who have kindly supported and encouraged me to do this and for disappointing them. I know this will come as I surprise to many but I had always wondered whether it was all too soon for me to launch this leadership bid - I fear it was. "

The commentators I've heard have given three (speculative) possibilities:

a) skeleton in closet
b) following tour of lost constituencies, he's become pessimistic about Labour's situation, and so no longer wants the leadership at the moment.
c) he'd rather go for being London Mayor

That was a speedy withdrawal. Odd.

What extra pressure has there really been so far. A few more interviews. Has the daily mail been going through his bins?

Heh?

He can't be that much of a lightweight, surely? If he can't take a week of being called a nob by the Daily Mail, how did he think he was going to be prime minister?

There's something seriously not right about this. Smells fishy, fish.

Crikey, just seen on twitter that C.U has withdrawn his candidacy

Surely, though, if he's hiding something rotten in his closet, it's going to come out, now regardless, unless he takes up being a monk in the Outer Hebrides, or something.

twitter.com/thejohnsimpson/status/599152457982304256

Maybe he's a MN user

Maybe he thinks he can't win, they were discussing him on Newsnight last night, and I'm sure they said he didn't have that much support from labour MPs.

I think he comes across as not very sincere and rather defensive. although I think he's extremely good looking

soapboxqueen "I liked Jarvis too"

He's a bit creepy.

This won't have helped

In comments on a site from 2006, he said: "Is it just me or is there a serious lack of cool places to go in central London at the weekends.
"Most of the West End haunts seem to be full of trash and C-list wannabes, while other places that should know better opt for the cheesy vibe."
The millionaire former lawyer then called for recommendations for "a trash-free, decent night".

A spokesman for Mr Umunna apologised for any offence caused and pointed out that he has not posted on the website since becoming an MP.

NEW LABOUR

Jesus wept

If a comment slagging off "C-list wannabes" (not exactly an untouchable demographic) and the general quality of London nightclubs is the worst thing they could dig up on him, no wonder he was a strong candidate.

They must have found something else. Something people would actually care about.

Maybe he has THREE kitchens.

I've seen him eat a burger.

He's about to join the Conservatives. No better reason to withdraw from the Labour leadership race .

I don't see anything wrong with being a fully paid up Tory while being leader of the Labour Party. Tony Blair did it for years.

Good point Dora.

He doesn't want to be the guy who spends the next 4 years trying to win back the 'kippers' the 'aspirational middle classes' the 'scots' and 'the shy Tories who lied to pollsters' only to fail at the next election and to be sacked.

Don't Blame him. Mayor of London sounds fun.

There's only a Tony Blaire/Maggie Thatcher every now and again and love them or loathe them they were massively electable and had that winning quality.

He doesn't.

Calling people trash? Think hes in the wrong party tbh.

When is the election for Mayor of London? Lots one seem to be out of the running for Labour leader because of that

He's young and has his whole life to go for that job. No point in taking it now and being the fall guy for the next election.

Next election for London Mayor is in May 2016.

If he is citing media scrutiny then surely that rules out him going for London mayor?

TBH I can't see the appeal in him, we have had 5 years of 'no true labour' whenever some critisms of the blair years have been brought up, to move the party back to center right to replicate it will be the death of the Labour Party.

This has all happened since that Trust Fund business came to light. I think it's to do with that. I don't think it's his personal life being gay or bi-sexual or whatever. That's nobody's business but his own. But there might be objections to a married man with a string of mistresses like you know who. And that doesn't apply to him because he's not married.