One obvious question from BBC Radio 4 presenter Nick Robinson left Chuka Umunna catching flies on 19 February. The day before, Umunna joined six other MPs in resigning from Labour to establish a new centrist group.
Not a single idea?
On Radio 4, Robinson asked Umunna what policies he actually disagrees with in the 2017 Labour manifesto:
Other than Europe, what part of that manifesto do you disavow and disagree with?
But, despite breaking away from Labour, the MP for Streatham had nothing to say in response:
Listen: "What part of the Labour manifesto that you stood on in 2017 do you now disagree with?"
Chuka Umunna: [SILENCE] pic.twitter.com/QLdhF9gmx4
— EL4C #WeAreCollective (@EL4JC) February 19, 2019
They’ve done this before
Centrist think-tank Progressive Centre UK pays Umunna, the chairman, £451 per hour. Yet the MP doesn’t appear to have any ideas to push. Despite months of planning, the new centrist group doesn’t appear to have one policy.
And we’ve been here before. The Blairites have long had no solutions to austerity, climate change and the other major issues we face. This was encapsulated during the failed 2016 coup against Jeremy Corbyn. BBC host Andrew Neil had a simple question for Labour MP Angela Eagle, who was preparing to challenge Corbyn at the time:
Other than Trident, what are the major policy differences?
In response, Eagle said “well, I think I’m on the left”, and that she wanted to lead an “anti-austerity party”. But Neil was talking about policies that differ from Labour’s:
I understand. That’s Mr Corbyn’s position, too. I asked you ‘what are the major policy differences?’
Like Umunna in 2019, Eagle had no response:
The Blairites are back with no vision, values or plan yet again. Even though, in essence, starting a new political group without any policies is like starting a brewery with no alcohol. Not only is it utterly pointless, but it’s disappointing for your customers. Or in this case: the British electorate.
Umunna and rest of the Insignificant Seven should be ashamed.
Featured image via Sky News/YouTube
