When Chuka Umunna appeared on Question Time on 9 July, he was garlanded with praise by his fellow panellists. In response to a question on the Labour leadership race, Conservative minister Anna Soubry said: “I was delighted when Chuka decided not to stand for the leadership because I think he would be, unfortunately, a very good leader of the Labour Party.” Rachel Johnson, the journalist and sister of Boris, confessed: “I was sad when Chuka withdrew so soon. I’d like to launch a campaign to bring back Chuka’s candidacy.” There are many more Tories who are privately celebrating Umunna’s absence from the contest – and plenty in Labour who are lamenting it.
The question of why the shadow business secretary “really” withdrew from the race, just a few days after launching his campaign, was the one raised most often when I mentioned I was interviewing him. Umunna gives the same answer he gave on 15 May, citing the press attention towards his family.
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