Shadow business secretary and MP for Streatham Chuka Ummuna has announced his intention to run for leader of the Labour Party (and potentially the UK) following the recent resignation of former party leader Ed Miliband.
Over the last year or so, there has been much deliberation as to whether Umunna, who has often been described the UK’s Obama, will take the step to becoming Labour’s leader, and if they were to win the next election, Britain’s first non-white Prime Minister.
Umunna’a announcement came after Labour’s harrowing defeat which saw them lose dozens of seats, and led to Ed Miliband stepping down from his position as party leader. In his announcement, Umunna made his way out of London, to the town of Swindon near Wales, a constituency that Labour was unable to win. In his 2 minute youtube video, Umunna pointed out that it is places like Swindon, outside of London, that have lost their faith in the Labour Party, and stated that if he was to be made Labour’s leader it will be his mission to win seats in places like Swindon.
“I wanted to get out of London and say what I was going to do, here,” he said in his video, which was shot on a Swindon high street. “Of course we’ve got to be winning in places like Swindon. I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be standing for the leadership of the party. I think we can and should be winning in seats like in Swindon. North, south, east west we can absolutely d it as a party.”
Umunna also believes the with the right leader, Labour will be leading the country in the next five years, despite losing the last to election and in spite of the general belief that the party will need ten years to win back the heart of the people.
“I think the labour party can do it in five years,” he added in his announcement. “I want to lead that effort as part of a really big labour team, getting Labour back into office, building a fairer and more equal society. That’s why we all joined the party in the first place.”
Umanna will be running against Shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Leicester MP Liz Kendall. At aged 36, he will be the youngest candidate out of the group.
While Umunna stated his intention to run, MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, announced that he will not be running for Labour leadership, because he feels he is better suited to a position as London Mayor.
“I am not going to be standing for the Labour leadership because I think we need a leader that can win back the Midlands and understand Scotland, as well as the South.
“My strengths are in London and the south and therefore I want to be the Labour candidate for mayor.”
The new Labour leader will be announced in September ahead of the Labour party conference.
