Chuka Umunna, was born in October 1978, he studied Law at the University of Manchester and the University of Burgundy, followed by Nottingham Law School.
An employment law solicitor by profession, prior to his election Chuka worked at a law firm primarily acting for employees but also employers, having trained at a City law firm.
He is a patron of Latimer Creative Media, a social enterprise which trains young people in digital media and a supporter of Cassandra Learning Centre, a charity raising awareness and working to stop domestic violence.
Chuka was elected as Member of Parliament for Streatham in May 2010, becoming the first MP for the constituency to have grown up in the area. He was elected to represent Streatham having received 20,037 votes, with the number of votes received by Labour rising from 18,950 in the previous general election in 2005. Turnout in Streatham increased by 11.5 percentage points at 62.8% compared with 51.3% in 2005. In June 2010, he was elected by his parliamentary colleagues to serve on the Treasury Select Committee. From 2011 – 2015 Chuka was a member of the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, leading for the Opposition on a wide range of issues including business, enterprise, science and universities. Chuka was re-elected as MP for Streatham in 2015 with 26,474 votes, increasing his majority to 13,934.
1) What is your current position?
MP for Streatham, my consistency which covers Streatham and parts of Brixton, Balham, Clapham and Tulse Hill. It's the area I grew up in and it's the centre of the universe as far as I'm concerned.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
I'm proudest of the campaigns I've ran to help people locally, like the family of Cherry Groce who needed help to get legal aid at the inquest into her death, and the campaigns I've instigated nationally, like Small Business Saturday, which has helped to encourage people to use and value local businesses.
3) What inspires you?
What inspires me is the belief that one day the children from the poorest parts of my constituents will have the same opportunities and succeed in the same way as those from the richest.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
The biggest obstacle was probably when I was young and still at school, and I didn't think politics was necessarily something for people like me. It was going along and getting involved with things when later in my youth that made me realise this was something that I could do - and I think that's really important for young people now.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
The biggest influence on me has been my parents – they are a constant inspiration to me.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
My office and I have been able to help thousands of my constituents with their personal problems with things like housing, benefits and immigration. It's really important to be able to make a difference on a very concrete level for the people you represent.
7) And the worst?
Not having nearly enough time and resource to do all the things you want to do for the common good.
8) What are your long term goals?
I want to help tackle the big issues that affect my constituency and build a fairer, more equal, freer, more prosperous, democratic and environmentally sustainable world.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
One thing which I've always thought is really important for any prime minister or leader of the opposition is to change the tone of the debate with - like Jeremy Corbyn did in his first Prime Ministers Questions which was different and refreshing.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Martin Luther King – the best orator of all time and a personal hero of mine.
