Chuka Umunna avoids declaring for Labour leadership as Mandelson appears to anoint future candidate
The former shadow business secretary refused to be drawn on his plans for launching a leadership bid, although many tip him to challenge Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham for the top job.
Writing a high profile and critical piece in today’s Observer did little to dampen the rumours, although asked directly he laughed rather heartily but didn’t really answer the question.
Instead he told Andrew Marr this morning: “You can change the leader but unless you get the message right we are not going to win.”
Lord Mandelson, the former Labour business secretary, was sitting next to him and was prepared to go a little further: “He’s a little way to go, but I think he’ll get there”, he said.