Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Politics
Original poster

Chuka withdraws from the leadership contest!

151 replies

MagentaVitus · 15/05/2015 10:41

With a turn around that quick, there has got to be a scandal.

What's your bet on? Mine is either scam girlfriend or money troubles.

Thoughts?

OP posts:
Treats · 15/05/2015 11:12

It can't be c. He's going to be subject to as much press scrutiny as a mayoral candidate as he would be as Labour leadership candidate. If he wanted to be mayor, he'd be much better off saying so than letting everybody think he's got something to hide.

AuntieStella · 15/05/2015 11:13

His staff have been speaking to the press and denying the skeleton theory.

Original poster
MagentaVitus · 15/05/2015 11:15

His staff have been speaking to the press and denying the skeleton theory.

Doesn't mean its not true... They're hardly going to give the papers the goss are they?

OP posts:
Treats · 15/05/2015 11:15

I'm enjoying a mental image of Yvette Cooper giving a witchy cackle and crossing his name off her shit list.

Names already crossed off include Douglas Alexander, and of course "Hubby"

claig · 15/05/2015 11:16

Surely as a communicator, he could clear this up by clarifying what it is all about?

Bohemond · 15/05/2015 11:18

I think he's realised Labour cannot possibly win in 2020 as, underlined by YC, they are as yet unable to admit mistakes. He will therefore bide his time. Ditto Dan Jarvis IMO.

Obviously neither could give that as a reason for not running.

ClaudiaNaughton · 15/05/2015 11:19

"Unstable private life" not good. £1200 Saville Row suits not a labour vote winner either IMHO.

SeekingTheSun15 · 15/05/2015 11:20

I don't think it matters too much who wins anyway as I think they will just be a caretaker leader in the same way as IDS and MH were. I think the Tories kicked themselves for putting Hague in there too soon and the Labour Party will have learned from that. They are at least 5yrs away from government so have a couple of years to play with.

tiggytape · 15/05/2015 11:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

myshinynewusername · 15/05/2015 11:37

This tweet from eyespymp a few months ago has always had me a bit confused, but may (or not) be relevant??

"@eyespymp Chuka and Tristram Hunt having massive DMC in PCH yesterday. Why do it so publicly?"

Replies suggested that DMC stands for deep meaningful conversation.

SeekingTheSun15 · 15/05/2015 11:40

The guy on sky news was just saying his (CU) girlfriend is pregnant and was being shoved by press trying to get to him. Also her grandmother being hassled by the daily mail. Maybe, just maybe, it really is that he's sat down and thought; sod this, I don't need this in my life.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 15/05/2015 11:41

I have two Londin based gay London friends who don't know each other but who separately were astonished when he appeared at the Andrew Marr show on Sunday with a girlfriend so I suppose we can take from that what we will

SeekingTheSun15 · 15/05/2015 11:42

Sorry, he was saying that Rachel Reeves is pregnant and that she was shoved and that this made CU think. Seems tenuous to me.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 15/05/2015 11:43

Twitter also saying that apparently some excruciating dating profiles have been dug up by the press. I'm presuming they are more if the Shrien Dewani type than match.com

AuntieStella · 15/05/2015 11:46

What's PCH?

Amethyst24 · 15/05/2015 11:53

Portcullis House presumably.

ShellyBoobs · 15/05/2015 11:56

What's PCH?

Pacific Coast Highway

SeekingTheSun15 · 15/05/2015 11:58

But if he was gay, why bother to hide it? It's a non issue for people of his generation and almost all are 'out' byt the first term at university.
It may be a barrier to being PM but not to being a successful and respected politician. There must be another reason, quite possibly the one he has given.

And yes to NR being a Tory. He does, after all, hail from GO's constituency of Tatton. I heard him once say he had huge admiration for Gordon Brown the man even though he disagreed with his politics. But I've also heard others say that Ed Balls is fantastic company and great at a party.

noddyholder · 15/05/2015 12:00

I have to say the gf looked 'new'

JoanHickson · 15/05/2015 12:01

There were comments on another thread discussing what was under the gf loose top.

noddyholder · 15/05/2015 12:02

I liked him

Arsenic · 15/05/2015 12:03

If he's bisexual, that isn't a scandal in itself.

Treats · 15/05/2015 12:08

I kind of hope it's not that he's gay. Or that there's more to it than just that iyswim. I think it would be a bit of a tragedy if he thought he had to conceal it, and to withdraw from the leadership race through fear that he was about to be exposed, only to find that it needn't ever have been an issue in the first place.

If it is that - or just that - then he should come out now, let the fuss die down and then carry on with his leadership campaign. It's not the 1970s anymore.

frankie80 · 15/05/2015 12:09

It can't be anything to do with the level of press attention - it comes with the job, he knew that. So yes, there's a scandel, but then again, he must have known whatever it was would come out, unless his girlfriend/family member kept it quiet.

frankie80 · 15/05/2015 12:11

just seen people are saying he's gay/bisexual. I'm sure under a picture of his 'girlfriend', she was mentioned as being a 'female friend' which does hint at his sexuality.

But he shouldn't withdraw his candidacy for that, unless he was cheating on someone or whatnot.