Serial quitter now plans to stand for LibDems in Streatham at next general election – but history between them not kind to either
Analysis
As any smoker knows, quitting habits is not easy – but Chuka Umunna has demonstrated a ‘quitting habit’ recently, leaving first the Labour Party and lately his disastrous new ‘Tinge/TIG/CUK venture and he has now been reported as planning to stand for the LibDems in Streatham in the next general election.
LibDem members are understandably unhappy at the prospect of Umunna representing them and are complaining that the party’s rules on parliamentary candidate selection are being bypassed to accommodate him – but the LibDem leadership has welcomed the development and Umunna has appeared cosily with current leader Vince Cable. There are even rumours that he may have joined in time to make his own bid for the soon-to-be-vacant leadership.
To the frustration of his constituents, Umunna has shown no sign of extending his new habit to actually triggering a by-election. Only 6.5% of them voted for the LibDems in 2017, but they look now to be stuck with a LibDem MP until the next general election.
But Umunna’s constituents might not be the only ones unhappy with Umunna’s sudden allegiance – any remaining vestiges of 2017 Chukka Umunna will also have a few words to say to the 2019 version.
In April 2017, just after Theresa May had announced her ‘snap’ general election, Umunna tweeted not only that he could ‘never ever countenance‘ advising anyone to vote LibDem because of the damage they had supported to the NHS, schools and public services – but that he could ‘never forgive‘ them for what they had helped the Tories do to Streatham:
Now Umunna apparently wants to do a lot more than ‘forgive’ – and wants to ask all the voters of Streatham to vote LibDem.
The cognitive dissonance between his ears must be deafening. If it isn’t, that’s even worse.
The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal or here for a monthly donation via GoCardless. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.
If you wish to reblog this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.