Really awkward footage of Chuka Umunna emerges at the worst time for the newly independent MP

Chuka Umunna talking outside parliament


Chuka Umunna is trying to position himself as a leading figure in the newly formed Independent Group (TIG). Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sky News, Umunna said he wants “to play the biggest role in this group” on 24 February.

But unfortunately for TIG’s self-styled No1, some really awkward footage from 2017 has emerged. And it suggests that Umunna must be either a willing self-saboteur or full of shit. Neither of which puts him in particularly good stead for a top role in TIG or his constituency.

Three Thank Yous

The Labour Party saw its biggest voteshare increase since 1945 in the 2017 general election. And following that victory, as journalist Owen Jones pointed out, Umunna posted a ‘thank you’ video on Twitter:

Related articles

Read on...

In the video, the MP gives “Three Thank Yous”. Firstly, he thanks his constituents for giving him “the honour and privilege” to represent Streatham. Umunna continues:

Secondly, you don’t just get elected through the efforts of an individual. It’s a group effort and we had an incredible Labour team locally… [which] pulled out all the stops.

Finally, the MP thanked none other than Jeremy Corbyn, who he said led a “fantastic” national campaign. According to Umunna, Corbyn’s campaign:

presented hope, optimism, a sense that life doesn’t have to be like this.

About face

So, Umunna explicitly acknowledges in the video that his election was a “group effort”. He expresses gratitude to both the constituency Labour Party (CLP) and the leadership for getting him back into parliament in that election. But Umunna has now quit Labour to form TIG, claiming he’s “sick and tired of politics as usual”. He’s relinquished the party machinery which, he says, enabled him to win. Isn’t that an act of self-sabotage?

Not everyone appears to think so. Some who responded to the video came to a different conclusion:

Others, meanwhile, pointed out that’s not the only example of Umunna’s past words jarring with his current actions:

Choices, choices

A number of commenters on the video did, however, argue that Umunna has a right to change his mind. Of course, he does. If he’s not “the least genuine person in politics” and just no longer holds this glowing opinion of Labour, then fine. But people put him in parliament on a Labour ticket. And they too have a right to change their mind about whether they want him to represent them after his apparent change of heart.

So, regardless of his self-sabotaging, or bullshitting, credentials, this video makes one thing crystal clear: the people of Streatham deserve a byelection. Oh, and another thing. TIG would probably be wise to hold off on deciding who’s top dog for now.

Featured image via Twitter/screengrab

We need your help to keep speaking the truth

Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.

Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.

We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.

In return, you get:

* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop

Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.

With your help we can continue:

* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do

We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?

The Canary Support us

Related articles