London - Rising political star Chuka Umunna on Tuesday announced he will run for leadership of Britain's Labour Party as it seeks to rebuild following last week's devastating election defeat.
The 36-year-old posted a video on Facebook filmed while meeting activists in the southwest England town of Swindon, which saw a huge swing away from Labour and helped, seal the demise of Ed Miliband, who stepped down as leader on Friday.
"I will be standing for the leadership of the party," Umunna said. "I think we can and we should be winning in seats like in Swindon.
"I think the Labour party can do it in five years. I want to lead that effort."
If victorious, Umunna -- whose father is Nigerian -- would become the first ethnic-minority leader of a major British political party.
His slick style and centrist philosophy has raised comparisons to Tony Blair, the former party leader who won three general elections before the party moved to the left by electing Miliband.
He is the second official candidate after outsider Liz Kendall threw her hat in the ring on Sunday.
Bookmakers have made Umunna the clear favourite, ahead of Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Tristram Hunt, who are also expected to enter the race.
The party is due to set out the timetable for the leadership election when its National Executive Committee meets on Wednesday.
AFP
