Chuka Umunna
Encyclopedia
Chuka Harrison Umunna is a British
Labour Party
politician
and employment lawyer
. He has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Streatham
since 2010. After less than 18 months in Parliament, he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Business Secretary by Labour Leader Ed Miliband
on 7 October 2011. Umunna has described himself as being "One Nation Labour" and has written articles promoting the Blue Labour
trend within the Labour Party.
, south London, at the voluntary aided
Christ Church C of E Primary School (Cotherstone Road) in the Brixton Hill
area of Streatham; and at the independent
secondary school St. Dunstan's College
in Catford
in south-east London. He obtained a 2:1 degree in English and French Law from the University of Manchester
and then studied at the University of Burgundy
in Dijon
in France, and Nottingham Law School
in Nottingham
.
-Irish
mother. He is the grandson of High Court Judge Sir Helenus Milmo, QC
. Umunna is also the nephew of libel lawyer Patrick Milmo.
at the international law firm, Herbert Smith
, in the City of London
where as a solicitor Umunna mostly acted for large companies. In 2006, he moved to the central London law firm, Rochman Landau, where he mainly acted for individuals and small and medium sized companies. As an employment lawyer, Umunna often spoke in the media on employment issues.
From 2006 Umunna began to write and provide commentary on the Labour Party, economic, social and political issues. Umunna often did so in his capacity as a member of the management committee of centre-left pressure group, Compass. He wrote for the Financial Times
, Tribune
, The Voice
, The Guardian
and the New Statesman
, and he frequently appears on television and radio including on The Daily Politics
on BBC Two
and Question Time Extra on BBC News 24
. He founded and is the former editor of the online political magazine, TMP, which is primarily aimed at Labour-supporting ethnic-minority Britons. Contributors to the site include Lady Prosser, David Lammy
MP, Keith Vaz
MP and Jon Cruddas
MP (Umunna was a campaign aide to Cruddas during his Labour Party
Deputy Leadership campaign).
Umunna was formerly a trustee of the Anthony Bourne Foundation and the 409 Project. He is still a member of the Board of youth charity the Generation Next Foundation, alongside Martin Offiah
, Leo Ihenacho and Rikki Beadle-Blair
. In August 2007, Umunna was quoted in the wake of the numerous killings of teenagers in Britain linked to gangs and violence in urban Britain. His comments that the problems of young people living in the inner cities are linked to the wealth divide and increasing consumerism
were widely reported..
He challenged former Sun
editor Kelvin MacKenzie
for making remarks about former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the BBC's Question Time
television programme in October 2007, on which they were both panellists.
In November 2007, Umunna was identified as one of ten young, gifted and black people in British politics in The Independent on Sunday by Simon Woolley, director of Operation Black Vote. Woolley said Umunna "may end up as the UK's Barack Obama
". In a February 2008 edition of the New Statesman
, he was referred to in an article entitled "Is there a British Obama?".
In March 2008, Umunna was chosen by local Labour Party members as the Labour Party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Streatham constituency in London
, following the announcement of the retirement of Keith Hill.
He was again described in the New Statesman as "a Barack Obama
for Britain" , a comparison Umunna later came to disparage. He was also one of the individuals selected for The Observer's
January 2009 Hotlist, which highlighted people set to make a mark over the coming year.
In May 2009, he was chosen to be part of a panel of ten figures from across the political spectrum addressing the question: How do we restore the reputation of Parliament? by The Independent
following the expenses crisis
.
In January 2010, he was named by The Independent
as one the Labour politicians making the best use of microblogging website Twitter
as a communication tool.
, and calling for better financial regulation of the banking sector.
Umunna has taken a particular interest in economic policy and reform of the City
since entering Parliament. He was subsequently elected by his colleagues to serve on the prestigious Treasury Select Committee
. In July 2010, Umunna had a heated exchange with Chancellor
George Osborne
over the Chancellor's first Budget and its impact on the poorest in society at a Committee hearing. This was followed in November 2010 by a similar exchange with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury
, Danny Alexander
. Umunna has argued that the coalition government should revise its programme of fiscal consolidation, take a tougher stance with the British banking industry and take action to transform the credit ratings agency market. In January 2011, Umunna questioned the Chief Executive of Barclays Plc in relation to alleged tax avoidance activities by the bank during which he disclosed that the bank used over 300 subsidiary companies in offshore jurisdictions. In response to a question from Umunna, Bob Diamond
wrote in February 2011 to say that Barclays had paid £113m in UK corporation tax in 2009, during which it made £11.6bn profits worldwide. Further, the Mail on Sunday alleged that Umunna's mother's home, where he had previously lived, was owned by a trust based in Jersey
. The allegations were denied by a spokesman for Umunna who said that it was 'a private matter'
Umunna was one of 73 Labour MPs to nominate Ed Miliband
, the successful candidate, in the 2010 Labour leadership election
to find a successor to Gordon Brown
. From 10 October 2010 to 23 May 2011, Umunna served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary
to Ed Miliband
, along with Anne McGuire
, until he was appointed as Shadow Minister for Small Business and Enterprise under the Shadow Business Secretary John Denham
. He was replaced in the earlier role by Michael Dugher
. On 11 July 2011 he became involved in a confrontation in a Commons committee room with Alan Sugar over Lord Sugar's view on bank lending. Umunna was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Business Secretary on 7 October 2011, replacing John Denham, who announced his retirement from front-bench politics.
|-
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and employment lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Streatham
Streatham (UK Parliament constituency)
Streatham is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
since 2010. After less than 18 months in Parliament, he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Business Secretary by Labour Leader Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British Labour Party politician, currently the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition...
on 7 October 2011. Umunna has described himself as being "One Nation Labour" and has written articles promoting the Blue Labour
Blue Labour
Blue Labour is an influential political tendency in the British Labour Party that was "effectively disbanded" in July 2011 following remarks about immigration by Maurice Glasman, though political commentators argue that its ideas still have strong influence with the Labour leadership...
trend within the Labour Party.
Education
Umunna was educated at Hitherfield Primary School in StreathamStreatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, south London, at the voluntary aided
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
Christ Church C of E Primary School (Cotherstone Road) in the Brixton Hill
Brixton Hill
Brixton Hill is the name given to a 1 km section of road between Brixton and Streatham Hill in south London, England. It slopes downhill towards central London.Brixton Hill and Streatham Hill form part of the traditional main London to Brighton road...
area of Streatham; and at the independent
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
secondary school St. Dunstan's College
St Dunstan's College
St Dunstan's College is a co-educational independent school in London, England. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and was an all-boys establishment until 1994...
in Catford
Catford
Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
in south-east London. He obtained a 2:1 degree in English and French Law from the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and then studied at the University of Burgundy
University of Burgundy
The University of Burgundy is a university located in Dijon, France.The University of Burgundy is situated on a large campus called Campus Montmuzard, 15 minutes by bus from the City Centre...
in Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
in France, and Nottingham Law School
Nottingham Law School
Nottingham Law School is a law school in the UK with over 100 full-time lecturers and 400 students. It is an academic and professional institution, part of Nottingham Trent University, situated in the East Midlands....
in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
Family history
Umunna has a Nigerian father and an EnglishEnglish people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
-Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
mother. He is the grandson of High Court Judge Sir Helenus Milmo, QC
Helenus Milmo
Sir Helenus Patrick Joseph Milmo was a British lawyer and High Court judge. His career was notable for his role in the prosecution team at the Nuremberg Trials....
. Umunna is also the nephew of libel lawyer Patrick Milmo.
Career
Having completed his studies in 2002, Umunna started his legal career as a solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
at the international law firm, Herbert Smith
Herbert Smith
Herbert Smith LLP is an international law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The firm has offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was founded in the City of London in 1882 by Norman Herbert Smith and today has 240 partners and 1,300 fee-earners.-History:The firm was...
, in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
where as a solicitor Umunna mostly acted for large companies. In 2006, he moved to the central London law firm, Rochman Landau, where he mainly acted for individuals and small and medium sized companies. As an employment lawyer, Umunna often spoke in the media on employment issues.
From 2006 Umunna began to write and provide commentary on the Labour Party, economic, social and political issues. Umunna often did so in his capacity as a member of the management committee of centre-left pressure group, Compass. He wrote for the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
, Tribune
Tribune (magazine)
Tribune is a democratic socialist weekly, founded in 1937 published in London. It is independent but supports the Labour Party from the left...
, The Voice
The Voice (newspaper)
The Voice is a British national weekly tabloid newspaper owned by the Jamaican publisher, GV Media Group, aimed at the British Afro-Caribbean community. The paper is based in the London Docklands and is published every Monday.-History:...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
, and he frequently appears on television and radio including on The Daily Politics
The Daily Politics
The Daily Politics is a British television show launched by the BBC in 2003. Presented by Andrew Neil and Jo Coburn, the programme takes an in-depth and sometimes irreverent look at the daily goings on in Westminster and other areas across Britain and the world, and includes interviews with leading...
on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
and Question Time Extra on BBC News 24
BBC News 24
BBC News is the BBC's 24-hour rolling news television network in the United Kingdom. The channel launched as BBC News 24 on 9 November 1997 at 17:30 as part of the BBC's foray into digital domestic television channels, becoming the first competitor to Sky News, which had been running since 1989...
. He founded and is the former editor of the online political magazine, TMP, which is primarily aimed at Labour-supporting ethnic-minority Britons. Contributors to the site include Lady Prosser, David Lammy
David Lammy
David Lindon Lammy is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000.Lammy has commented on Britain's history of slavery.-Early life and Education:...
MP, Keith Vaz
Keith Vaz
Nigel Keith Anthony Standish Vaz, known as Keith Vaz, was born 26 November 1956 in Aden, Yemen.Keith Vaz is a British Labour Party politician and a Member of Parliament for Leicester East, He is the longest serving Asian MP and has been the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee since July...
MP and Jon Cruddas
Jon Cruddas
Jonathan Cruddas is a British Labour Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham. He was first elected in 2001 to the seat of Dagenham....
MP (Umunna was a campaign aide to Cruddas during his Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Deputy Leadership campaign).
Umunna was formerly a trustee of the Anthony Bourne Foundation and the 409 Project. He is still a member of the Board of youth charity the Generation Next Foundation, alongside Martin Offiah
Martin Offiah
Martin Offiah MBE is an English former rugby league and rugby union footballer.He is known as "Chariots" Offiah after the film Chariots of Fire...
, Leo Ihenacho and Rikki Beadle-Blair
Rikki Beadle-Blair
Rikki Beadle-Blair was born in July 1961, in Camberwell and raised in Bermondsey, both in south London. He is a British actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, singer, aerobics teacher, designer, choreographer/dancer and songwriter of West Indian origin....
. In August 2007, Umunna was quoted in the wake of the numerous killings of teenagers in Britain linked to gangs and violence in urban Britain. His comments that the problems of young people living in the inner cities are linked to the wealth divide and increasing consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
were widely reported..
He challenged former Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
editor Kelvin MacKenzie
Kelvin MacKenzie
Kelvin Calder MacKenzie is an English media executive and former newspaper editor. He is best known for being editor of The Sun newspaper between 1981 and 1994, an era in which the paper was established as Britain's best selling newspaper.- Biography :MacKenzie was educated at Alleyn's School...
for making remarks about former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the BBC's Question Time
Question Time (TV series)
Question Time is a topical debate BBC television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience...
television programme in October 2007, on which they were both panellists.
In November 2007, Umunna was identified as one of ten young, gifted and black people in British politics in The Independent on Sunday by Simon Woolley, director of Operation Black Vote. Woolley said Umunna "may end up as the UK's Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
". In a February 2008 edition of the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
, he was referred to in an article entitled "Is there a British Obama?".
In March 2008, Umunna was chosen by local Labour Party members as the Labour Party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Streatham constituency in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, following the announcement of the retirement of Keith Hill.
He was again described in the New Statesman as "a Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for Britain" , a comparison Umunna later came to disparage. He was also one of the individuals selected for The Observer's
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
January 2009 Hotlist, which highlighted people set to make a mark over the coming year.
In May 2009, he was chosen to be part of a panel of ten figures from across the political spectrum addressing the question: How do we restore the reputation of Parliament? by The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
following the expenses crisis
United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
The United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
.
In January 2010, he was named by The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
as one the Labour politicians making the best use of microblogging website Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
as a communication tool.
Member of Parliament
Umunna delivered his maiden speech on 2 June 2010, highlighting the need for new school building projects in his constituencyStreatham (UK Parliament constituency)
Streatham is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, and calling for better financial regulation of the banking sector.
Umunna has taken a particular interest in economic policy and reform of the City
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
since entering Parliament. He was subsequently elected by his colleagues to serve on the prestigious Treasury Select Committee
Treasury Committee
The House of Commons Treasury Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. In July 2010, Umunna had a heated exchange with Chancellor
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
George Osborne
George Osborne
George Gideon Oliver Osborne, MP is a British Conservative politician. He is the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, a role to which he was appointed in May 2010, and has been the Member of Parliament for Tatton since 2001.Osborne is part of the old Anglo-Irish aristocracy, known in...
over the Chancellor's first Budget and its impact on the poorest in society at a Committee hearing. This was followed in November 2010 by a similar exchange with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is the third most senior ministerial position in HM Treasury, after the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer . In recent years, the office holder has usually been given a junior position in the British Cabinet...
, Danny Alexander
Danny Alexander
Daniel Grian Alexander is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 2010. He has been the Member of Parliament for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey constituency since 2005....
. Umunna has argued that the coalition government should revise its programme of fiscal consolidation, take a tougher stance with the British banking industry and take action to transform the credit ratings agency market. In January 2011, Umunna questioned the Chief Executive of Barclays Plc in relation to alleged tax avoidance activities by the bank during which he disclosed that the bank used over 300 subsidiary companies in offshore jurisdictions. In response to a question from Umunna, Bob Diamond
Robert Diamond
Robert Edward "Bob" Diamond, Jr. is an American banker, currently Group Chief Executive of British bank, Barclays Plc. He is also Chief Executive of Corporate & Investment Banking and Wealth Management, comprising Barclays Capital, Barclays Corporate and Barclays Bank...
wrote in February 2011 to say that Barclays had paid £113m in UK corporation tax in 2009, during which it made £11.6bn profits worldwide. Further, the Mail on Sunday alleged that Umunna's mother's home, where he had previously lived, was owned by a trust based in Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
. The allegations were denied by a spokesman for Umunna who said that it was 'a private matter'
Umunna was one of 73 Labour MPs to nominate Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British Labour Party politician, currently the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition...
, the successful candidate, in the 2010 Labour leadership election
Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2010
The 2010 Labour Party leadership election was triggered by a general election which resulted in a hung parliament. On 10 May, Gordon Brown resigned as Leader of the Labour Party. The following day, he stepped down as Prime Minister....
to find a successor to Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
. From 10 October 2010 to 23 May 2011, Umunna served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British Labour Party politician, currently the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition...
, along with Anne McGuire
Anne McGuire
Anne Catherine McGuire is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Stirling since 1997.-Early life:...
, until he was appointed as Shadow Minister for Small Business and Enterprise under the Shadow Business Secretary John Denham
John Denham
John Denham may refer to:* John Denham , British Member of Parliament for Southampton Itchen* John Denham , English poet* John 'Abs' Denham is a fictional nurse in the UK television drama Casualty...
. He was replaced in the earlier role by Michael Dugher
Michael Dugher
Michael Vincent Dugher is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Barnsley East since 2010....
. On 11 July 2011 he became involved in a confrontation in a Commons committee room with Alan Sugar over Lord Sugar's view on bank lending. Umunna was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Business Secretary on 7 October 2011, replacing John Denham, who announced his retirement from front-bench politics.
External links
- Chuka Umunna MP official constituency website
- Streatham Labour
- TMP Online
- Article archive at The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- Chuka Umunna - Operation Black Vote profile
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