Tories feared home affairs job would give Chuka “a springboard into a possible future Labour leadership challenge,” source says.
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) October 19, 2016
Allies of Chuka say he was victim of Tories who feared Home Affairs job would give him springboard in any future Labour leadership contest
— Jason Beattie (@JBeattieMirror) October 19, 2016
Labour folk friendly to Chuka saying Tories caucused against him because he is more of a threat as a future leader than Yvette. Perhaps…
— Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) October 19, 2016
“Allies of Chuka” texted friendly members of the Lobby last night with the same tenuous line: that the Tories had blocked him from the Home Affairs committee chairmanship because they fear him as a potential future Labour leader. You’ll rarely get a more transparent and less believable briefing. Guido recalls a senior Labour figure a few years back explaining to hacks at Ed Miliband’s Christmas drinks party that Chuka would never be leader because everyone in Labour despises him. Whatever he’s spinning, the truth is Chuka is so unpopular with his own colleagues in the PLP he never stood a chance of winning the Home Affairs gig…
H/T Matt Chorley/Sam Coates
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