http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32748106


Chuka Umunna has withdrawn from the Labour leadership contest, just three days after announcing his bid.


The shadow business secretary decided to stand aside because he felt uncomfortable with the media scrutiny he had received since launching his leadership campaign on Tuesday and said he was worried about the impact it would have on those around him.

His reason for leaving the leadership race so soon after declaring fuelled speculation that a weekend newspaper was preparing to reveal details about his private life, but this was denied by Mr Umunna's aides.



Sources suggested the media scrutiny he referred to in his statement instead related to members of the press door-stepping his elderly relatives, as well as those of his girlfriend - employment lawyer Alice Sullivan. One of his aides said he was not prepared to put his family through intense press intrusion but did not rule out running for leader in the future.

Fellow Labour MP Ben Bradshaw told Sky News that he understood it "involved an elderly mother and other relatives".

In a statement released this morning Mr Umunna explained that although he was "used to" the level of attention that came with his shadow cabinet job, it was "nothing" compared to the scrutiny he had faced over the past week.

"I witnessed the 2010 leadership election process close up and thought I would be comfortable with what it involved," he said.

"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," he added.


There goes the hope of another 'Obama' in UK


This raises some very serious questions.



Was he not aware of the publicity before he decided to run for the leadership?

Does he have something to hide?

Or was he warned off?