Chuka Umunna says it’s not “impossible” but “quite unlikely” he’d stand to be leader in the future

Chuka Umunna was one of the people to put his name forward to be Labour leader following the party’s election defeat earlier this month. However, three days after he said he was standing, he announced he was dropping out of the race.

Umunna cited that pressure from the press both on himself and his family and loved ones was the reason for this decision. Many have speculated that the Shadow Business Secretary – who is only 36 – might consider standing in the future.

Last night in an interview with Newsnight’s Allegra Stratton, when asked about standing in the future he said it’s unlikely, explaining “I wouldn’t say it’s impossible but I think it’s quite unlikely.” He also reiterated that it was the level of media pressure that forced him to bow out of the race this time round.

Umunna went on to outline why he was backing Liz Kendall for the leadership job, an announcement he made yesterday. He told Stratton that he agrees with the majority of what Kendall has been saying, and says that they both shared worries about the direction the party were taking during the last parliament. Although Umunna did note that he remains Ed Miliband’s friend and recognises the level of pressure the former Labour leader had been under.

The MP for Streatham then voiced some worry about Labour being at the forefront of a campaign for Britain to stay in the EU, ahead of the referendum on the subject. He explained that the party were worried about how this might shape the way potential UKIP voters see them:

“I think everyone is agreed that is where we are and that is our position as a party, but the extent to which we should put ourselves at the forefront of the campaign to stay in there is a degree of hesitancy.

“There is a worry that what beset us after the Scottish referendum – where we were on the winning side of the argument in terms of the way the referendum went but we saw the fall out after – there is a worry that that same fate will beset the Labour party in parts of England.”

You can watch the full interview here: