Chuka Umunna says it's 'highly unlikely' he will become Labour leader: 'I’m not sure the party would have me to be honest'

Streatham MP suggests current party membership would not vote for him

Chuka Umunna has said he is unlikely to run to be Labour leader because he does not think party members would elect him.

The Streatham MP said he was not interested in taking over from Jeremy Corbyn "at the moment", because he was "not sure the Labour Party would have me".

He initially put himself forward during the 2015 Labour leadership contest but withdraw days later, citing media intrusion into his private life.

Mr Umunna was speaking at The Independent's Brexit debate, alongside House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, Tory MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg and Dominic Grieve, anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller and Labour Leave's John Mills.

Asked if he would seek the party leadership if there was a time when Mr Corbyn stepped down, he replied: "Well he's probably not going to be there in 100 years. I think it is unlikely to be happening any time soon, and certainly not before the date of departure from the European Union."

Pushed on whether he would stand, he said: "Not at the moment, no. It's less a question of whether I fancy a crack at it - I'm not sure the Labour Party would have me, to be quite frank."

Mr Umunna also said it was to be expected that many Labour MPs hold different views on Brexit to those of their party leadership. He has repeatedly called on Mr Corbyn to soften his Brexit stance and back keeping the UK in the EU single market, and is a supporter of the campaign for a "People's Vote" on the final Brexit deal negotiated with Brussels.

Asked about his party's Brexit policy, he said: "Both of the main parties are divided on this issue. In many respects it would be weird if we weren't because we're supposed to reflect the country and the country is divided on this issue.

"I'm very clear that I think my party needs to have a clear, distinctive position. You cannot maintain a fudge...You've got to make a decision about what you want here, in the same way as the government is being forced to do so."

Speaking at the same debate, leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said people should ignore business groups warning about the potential economic impact of Brexit.

Asked about industry concerns, he replied: "“By the business community, you mean the EU-funded CBI (Confederation of British Industry).

“They’ve got everything wrong in the whole of their history. I wouldn’t take any notice of them.”