LONDON, United Kingdom. Chuka Umunna has withdrawn from the Labour party leadership race, saying he is not comfortable with the “added level of pressure” that comes with being a candidate.
The 36-year-old was considered by many to be a front-runner in the race to succeed Ed Miliband, but said he had “very real concerns and worry about this bid’s impact on those close to me”.
He said in a statement: “As a member of the Shadow Cabinet, I am used to a level of attention which is part and parcel of the job. I witnessed the 2010 leadership election process close up and thought I would be comfortable with what it involved.
“However since the night of our defeat last week I have been subject to the added level of pressure that comes with being a leadership candidate.
“I have not found it to be a comfortable experience.
“One can imagine what running for leader can be like, understand its demands and the attention but nothing compares to actually doing it and the impact on the rest of one’s life.
“Consequently after further reflection I am withdrawing my candidacy.”
A source close to the shadow business secretary told Sky News the suggestion his decision to withdraw was due to forthcoming negative stories in the press was “utter nonsense”.
Labour London Mayoral candidate Dame Tessa Jowell told Sky News: “This was obviously a difficult decision and for him, I am absolutely sure, having talked to him at length about it I am absolutely sure it is the right decision.
“He knew that by running for the leadership he was going to open himself to greater scrutiny.
“And I think that he was ready for that.
“But what he was not prepared for was that scrutiny extending to his friends, his partner, and to his family.
“I think he has found that deeply distressing.”
Labour MP Jonathan Reynolds, a supporter of Mr Umunna who was to help run his campaign, said: “It is a tough decision to say that this is not your time and it is even more courageous to say that you will not put your family through the kind of campaign that this would entail.
“As his friend, I think he has done the right thing, as a Labour man, I am very disappointed.”
Mr Reynolds also insisted there was no “dark secret” waiting to come out.
Mr Umunna’s shock withdrawal means there are now four declared candidates: shadow health secretary Andy Burnham; shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, shadow international development secretary Mary Creagh; and shadow health minister Liz Kendall.
Former culture secretary Ben Bradshaw, who has confirmed he is running for the Labour party deputy leadership, said Mr Umunna was a “terrible loss” to the contest because he was the candidate the Conservatives “feared the most”.
He told Sky News the decision was “absolutely tragic” and said his reason for doing so was a “sad indictment” on society.
But he insisted the field remained strong, adding: “We are blessed in the Labour Party. We have a strong field of candidates.
“I’m sure when the dust settles on this, the public will have a chance to look at them.”
He said he had not yet decided who he would support, but admitted he had been seriously considering Mr Umunna.
Mr Umunna was pictured at the weekend arriving at TV studios for an interview hand-in-hand with his girlfriend, who had previously remained out of the public eye.
Credit: Sky News
