Meet Chuka Umunna, our Obama

Monday, 26 January 2009

By Clare Casey

ON THE historic day that America’s first black president steps into the Oval Office, CLARE CASEY met the man who has been dubbed Britain’s Barack Obama.

Chuka Umunna is Labour’s candidate for Streatham in the next General Election.

The ambitious young lawyer talks about growing up in South London, the “abhorrent demonisation of young people” and his “utter joy” at America’s new president.

- CHUKA Umunna has been named by leading political magazine the New Statesman as a contender for the next Labour Party leader who would be fast-tracked into the Cabinet if elected as MP.

He’s also been likened to Obama for some time because of his looks, legal background and inspirational qualities.

It’s a comparison he’s “extremely flattered” by, but laughs off as spin.

“I have heard myself called Britain’s Barack Obama, but I am quite happy being Streatham’s Chuka Umunna,” said the 30-year-old employment lawyer.

“Words cannot express how happy I am that Obama is in.

“Despite the count, until you actually see him being sworn in it’s just so unbelievable.

“We have relatives living in New York who would have moved to England if [Obama] didn’t get in.”

As for his own future, he refuses to speculate about getting a seat in Cabinet, pointing out he’s not even been elected to Parliament yet.

If elected, Chuka says his priorities would be youth provision, care for the elderly, education and transport.

He loathes the way young people are spoken about and believes if people are given the label of gun-toting monsters, they will be marginalised and ostracised further.

Chuka also believes old people can teach young people a lot and is looking at setting up a scheme between a group of Lambeth pensioners and kids.

He said: “Older people have knowledge, fun and the time to teach – if only they could get together with young people it could work really well.”

His blend of aspirational values and passion for social justice reflects his background.

His Nigerian father came to Britain in the 1960s, cleaning cars and then setting up a successful import-export business.

His part-English, part-Irish mother was a probation officer.

His dad died when he was 13 and he remembers having to grow up quickly.

He said: “My dad was very political and stood for an anti-corruption party in Nigeria – I guess that influenced me and growing up in Streatham under Thatcher had a big effect on me.

“It was much harder then, the inequality and poverty that you had in 1980s Britain.

It was all around me and I was very affected by it.”

When Chuka was two, his mum was shopping in Bon Marche in Brixton when a riot broke out.

He remembers she grabbed Chuka and his sister and ran, dropping her shopping bags and getting out through the back streets as fast as she could.

So what makes him any different from the other politicians who are all talk and promises for a brighter future?

He said: “My generation has much less tolerance for the nonsense that you hear – the android speak.

“If I thought I was going to become just another one of those bland people you often get [in Parliament], then I wouldn’t do it.

“What’s the point? I can make a positive contribution another way.”

Email: clare.casey@slp.co.uk

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8 comments on this news item

Posted by : Paul Richards, Streatham | Tuesday 30/Jun/2009 | Report this comment

Streatham needs someone from round here who’ll stand up for us. Chuka is a local boy who knows what’s going on - and isn’t afraid to speak his own mind (wish more were like that!!).

The tories can’t win - it’s a choice between Chuka and Chris Nicholson from the LibDems. Someone who’s lived here all their life vs dodgy millionaire finance type with an illegal donation in their past. Hmmm not very

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Posted by : Streatham Online, Streatham (http://streathamonline.blogspot.com) | Tuesday 21/Apr/2009 | Report this comment

What Streatham ultimately needs right now is a ’Totally Dedicated Action Man’ who can urgently restore it to it’s Former (Socio-Economic) Glory.

The other Streatham Candidate (Rahoul Bhansali) may (indeed) not necessarily be as flashy as Chuka Umunna ; but at least Rahoul does seem to be quite satisfied with the notion of comprehensively concentrating on Streatham’s Fundamental Needs - rather than simply using Downtrodden Streathamites as a Formidable Launchpad for Higher Political Office (elsewhere).

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Posted by : James Williams, Waterloo | Sunday 08/Feb/2009 | Report this comment

I think some comments are unfair to him.

The boy has more experience of life than most Members of Parliament, and he has real talent.

It is not easy for a Black person to get into a top city firm of Solicitors, nor to become vice-chair of his Constituency Party; and to defeat the Leader of the Council for selection as a Parliamentary candidate is a major achievement.

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