Chuka Umunna, The British Obama in making?



Chuka Umunna

When the next General Election is called some time before May 2010, each of the political parties will be putting forward candidates to represent Streatham in Parliament. In March 2008 Chuka Umunna was selected by the Streatham Labour Party as its parliamentary candidate at the next General Election. He succeeds Keith Hill, the current Labour Member of Parliament who has held the seat since April 1992 and is to retire.

If elected, Chuka will be the first MP for Streatham to be from and who grew up in the area, a parliamentary consituency which covers Streatham and parts of Clapham, Balham, Tulse Hill and Brixton. He has lived in the Streatham parliamentary constituency all his life (save for a short stint away studying). In his formative years Chuka attended Christ Church Primary School in the Brixton Hill part of the constituency and he is presently a School Governor of Sunnyhill Primary School and sits on the Board of Sunnyhill Children’s Centre, both in Streatham Wells. He lives on Streatham High Road.

Chuka is a specialist employment law solicitor by profession and works at a Central London law firm where he primarily acts for employees but also employers. In addition, he is a trustee of a national youth charity, the Anthony Bourne Foundation, and has been involved charitable youth work in Lambeth too.

Prior to becoming Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Streatham, Chuka was Vice Chair of Streatham Labour Party from 2004 to 2008 and had held a variety of positions throughout the local party. He is a member of the GMB and Unite trade unions and sits on the Management Committee of progressive pressure group, Compass.

As a person of mixed Nigerian, Irish and English descent, Chuka would become the first person of Black parentage to represent one of the three parliamentary constituencies covering the Brixton area. Aged 30, if elected Chuka would also become one of the youngest MPs in the country.

http://www.streathamlabour.org.uk/about-chuka/

Chuka Umunna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chuka Harrison Umunna (born October 1978) is a political activist and commentator, and an employment lawyer. In March 2008, he was chosen by local Labour Party members as the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Streatham constituency. He is of mixed Nigerian, Irish and English descent.[1]
[edit]Career

He is a leading member of the centre left pressure group, Compass, on whose management committee he sits, and often speaks on its behalf in the media,[2].
Umunna has written for the Financial Times[3], Tribune, The Voice, The Guardian, the New Statesman[4] and is one of The Guardian’s Comment is free website contributors. He also occasionally appears on television and radio including on The Daily Politics on BBC2 and Question Time Extra on BBC News 24.
He is the founder and editor of the online political magazine, TMP, which is primarily aimed at left-leaning 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 is a member of the executive committee of the Black Socialist Society [5], an affiliate of the Labour Party.
Having graduated with a 2:1 degree in English and French law from the University of Manchester, he started his legal career as a solicitor at the international law firm, Herbert Smith, in the City of London where Umunna mostly acted for large employers. In 2006 he moved to the Central London law firm, Rochman Landau, where he mainly acts for employees. As an employment lawyer, Umunna often speaks and writes on employment issues.[6] [7]
Further to his work as a trustee of two youth charities, the 409 Project in Lambeth, South London, and the Anthony Bourne Foundation, Umunna was quoted[8] in the wake of the numerous killings of teenagers in Britain linked to gangs and violence in urban Britain. His comments[9] that the problems of young people living in the inner cities is linked to the wealth divide and increasing consumerism were widely reported.[10]
He challenged former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie for making anti-Scottish remarks on the BBC's Question Time television programme in October 2007, on which they were both panellists.[11]
In November 2007, Umunna was identified as one of ten young, gifted and black people in British politics in the The Independent on Sunday by Simon Woolley, director of Operation Black Vote. Woolley said Umunna "may end up as the UK's Barack Obama".[12] In a February 2008 edition of the New Statesman, he was referred to in an article entitled "Is there a British Obama?".[13]

Interesting! Only that I never heard of him. However, I have heard of the group Compass. British Obama? Time will tell.

Obama was literally unknown till 2004.

Yes He can.

Everyting good and black now must be Obamanized.I tire.

ElRazur:

Interesting! Only that I never heard of him. However, I have heard of the group Compass. British Obama?

How would you guys hear of people of such calibre when you spend all your time in this forum lashing yourselves in the most unproductive manner!! The sort of people you will continue to know are the likes of Ikey, becomrich, nuzo, blaksta and every other tribalists here. I thought this forum was meant to serve a good purpose, informative and articulative, rather, its all tribal hatred which limits one's intellectual growth. I wonder where this will take Nigerians!!

ifyalways:

Everyting good and black now must be Obamanized.I tire.

No, this guy does have good prospects.

He has a good profile (university, top law firm, social commentator, good looks) and probably one of the few black politicians with such that I have seen recently. He just needs to build experience by getting a role in the cabinet and impress.

blunt1990:

How would you guys hear of people of such calibre when you spend all your time in this forum lashing yourselves in the most unproductive manner!! The sort of people you will continue to know are the likes of Ikey, becomrich, nuzo, blaksta and every other tribalists here. I thought this forum was meant to serve a good purpose, informative and articulative, rather, its all tribal hatred which limits one's intellectual growth. I wonder where this will take Nigerians!!

Baby of the free, unrestrained speech principles.

Aloy signed out,Blunt signed in.
hmm _{their trademark}

blunt1990:

How would you guys hear of people of such calibre when you spend all your time in this forum lashing yourselves in the most unproductive manner!! The sort of people you will continue to know are the likes of Ikey, becomrich, nuzo, blaksta and every other tribalists here. I thought this forum was meant to serve a good purpose, informative and articulative, rather, its all tribal hatred which limits one's intellectual growth. I wonder where this will take Nigerians!!

Nice constructive post. Lump everyone together.

The fact that you [i]post count is 1 [/i]and you can post such garbage, tells a lot.

Sagamite:

No, this guy does have good prospects.

He has a good profile (university, top law firm, social commentator, good looks) and probably one of the few black politicians with such that I have seen recently. He just needs to build experience by getting a role in the cabinet and impress.

Baby of the free, unrestrained speech principles.

So what? Does he have to be Obama-ized? Why not just let him be his own self, British Chuma Umunna? Must he be connected in some way to Obama? Must everything black and good now be connected to Obama?

So what? Does he have to be Obama-ized? Why not just let him be his own self, British Chuma Umunna? Must he be connected in some way to Obama? Must everything black and good now be connected to Obama?

Is this worth an argument?. The used Obama to draw a threshold because if they didn't many people will not understand the direction he is going or what the journalist is saying.

Aloy.Emeka:

Is this worth an argument?. The used Obama to draw a threshold because if they didn't many people will not understand the direction he is going or what the journalist is saying.

Please tell me that retort is meant for a joke. use Obama to draw a threshold for whom? You mean before Obama showed up, black people never understood what it meant to be successful, in any field??

He could be the new mahatma ghandi of saudi or the usman dan fodio of japan for all i care.we have our own problems looking for who will save nigeria. . . .

Please tell me that retort is meant for a joke. use Obama to draw a threshold for whom? You mean before Obama showed up, black people never understood what it meant to be successful, in any field??

What is successful?. A lot of people are successful even before Obama but the journalist was trying to be directional and typify the expected success.  It's glaring and am surprised you can't see it; Oh well. Was CNN not referring to Obama as the 21st C JFK?. I watched many documentaries during his election where they branded him  21C JFK.

He could be the new mahatma ghandi of saudi or the usman dan fodio of japan for all i care.we have our own problems looking for who will save nigeria. . . .

I bow for them oo.

blunt1990:

How would you guys hear of people of such calibre when you spend all your time in this forum lashing yourselves in the most unproductive manner!! The sort of people you will continue to know are the likes of [b]Ikey, becomrich, nuzo, blaksta and every other tribalists [/b]here. I thought this forum was meant to serve a good purpose, informative and articulative, rather, its all tribal hatred which limits one's intellectual growth. I wonder where this will take Nigerians!!

Can you imagine . At this stage the person only has  1 post and has come to this  speedy conclsuion . I suspect this another one with multiple ID's


Please be adviced I am not a tribalist - I always advocate a one Nigeria.


I _laugh    - i can smell you from a distance.

Kobojunkie:

So what? Does he have to be Obama-ized? Why not just let him be his own self, British Chuma Umunna? Must he be connected in some way to Obama? Must everything black and good now be connected to Obama?

Eh, no be me you go attack now, na de person wey dey obamanise am you suppose get case with instead wey you come dey blow grammar for me.

Who cares about Britain.



What about Nigeria?

When do we get a leader? An actual leader, not looter/thief/idiot/lameduck?

When do we get a leader? An actual leader, not looter/thief/idiot/lameduck?

It will happen sooner than you think. Tunde Bakare already prophesied about it.

its ticking and I cant say whether im the only one hearing it.

It will soon explode! Thats when Ikey or afaukwu knows about this thread, what I mean is when [i]the [/i]question is asked.

What is that question sef?

As if you dont all know - from which tribe in naija did that guy originate from?

Aloy.Emeka:

What is successful?. A lot of people are successful even before Obama but the journalist was trying to be directional and typify the expected success.  It's glaring and am surprised you can't see it; Oh well. Was CNN not referring to Obama as the 21st C JFK?. I watched many documentaries during his election where they branded him  21C JFK.

Oh!! So CNN is now to blame for this ? Come on! I watch the same CNN and you do not see me going about trying to OBAMA-IZE everything black out there!! Like the lady said, some of us are sick of it!! The dude's name is Chuka Umunna, unless he specifically said to compare him to Obama, I think we ought to stop doing that. For all we know this particular guy may have been working longer than obama has but only got noticed only recently. Why ignore all that so we can pin the Obama logo on him?? Jeeezz!!

Truth is I like this guy. The first time I heard him speak was 2 years ago when he reasonably discussed the ills of the Blair govt on ? time. twas spot on, Exactly what reasonably pp wud do. If he's got it n willing, let's give it a chance- it doesn't get any better.

The Dude.clearly has a lot going for him; i believe if he works hard he will get elected, but he's got his work cut out as even though the area is highly black populated the electoral participation of blacks (youths) in general is not encouraging, Wont be surprise if he relatively unknown in his local community amongst the 16-30 age range, In this areas his kind are not recognised as only Celebrities and Club promoters; Bad Boys are more recognised. Hope he wins as he might serve as a role model to the youths, and hopefully be more relevant than david lammy

The Dude.clearly has a lot going for him; i believe if he works hard he will get elected, but he's got his work cut out as even though the area is highly black populated the electoral participation of blacks (youths) in general is not encouraging, Wont be surprise if he relatively unknown in his local community amongst the 16-30 age range, In this areas his kind are not recognised as only Celebrities and Club promoters; Bad Boys are more recognised. Hope he wins as he might serve as a role model to the youths, and hopefully be more relevant than david lammy

Obama started from the south side of Chicago which is largely populated by blacks.

Paul Boatening is one popular African in the United Kingdom and has been around before Chuka.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boateng

it's not how FAR but aw WELL plus favour of God, Ndipe.

Paul Boatening is one popular African in the United Kingdom and has been around before Chuka.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boateng

So are other powerful African American politicians before Obama. Truth is that each of us have different destinies.

Great!

People like this are routinely gunned down in lawless Nigeria and NOTHING happens. We should celebrate the fact that young black people are doing well anywhere on the globe.

Nigeria? Let the fools running the country continue to drown themselves in meaningless wealth and empty opulence while their colleagues in other nations are creating opportunities for their youths.

Nigeria? Let the fools running the country continue to drown themselves in meaningless wealth and empty opulence while their colleagues in other nations are creating opportunities for their youths.

I think we are very close to the end of their hegemony. Revolution is coming to Nigeria soon, I tell you, the younger generation from east, west, north and south have one thing common: they despise their government. Only a fool will see that and continue to reign in his/her fools paradise. Revolution is coming, I tell you.

Aloy.Emeka:

I think we are very close to the end of their hegemony. Revolution is coming to Nigeria soon, I tell you, the younger generation from east, west, north and south have one thing common: they despise their government. Only a fool will see that and continue to reign in his/her fools paradise. Revolution is coming, I tell you.

I believe you.

@Aloy.emeka
so pastor Tunde bakare has prophesied. . . .that means theres no hope for nigeria at all! Isn't it the same charlatan who said OBJ will die in 1999,this is 2009 ten years on. . . . .