After a bleak night for the Labour Party nationally the shadow business secretary, and the man widely tipped to take over as party leader, Chuka Umunna pledged to work for ‘a fairer, more equal Britain’.
Having swept to victory with 53% of the vote, Mr Umunna spoke proudly of his constituency and his plans for the future.
He also graciously paid tribute to his Liberal Democrat rival whose sister died during the election campaign.
He said: “I would like to thank all of the other parties and candidates, it’s been a good natured, challenging and lively contest and that’s exactly how it should be.
“I would also like to pay a word of tribute to Amna Ahmad, who tragically lost her sister during the election but nevertheless fought on and carried on making the case for her party.
“I thank the Streatham Labour Party family, I haven’t really been elected in as much as the party has been re-elected and none of this would be possible without all their efforts and I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.
“Most of all I want to thank the people of Streatham. I was born into and grew up in the community and I love it.”
During his acceptance speech Mr Umunna spoke passionately about his constituency and the people who live there.
“I always say and will say this on my deathbed, Streatham is the centre of our universe and it’s a wonderfully diverse constituency,” he said.
“In spite of all its potential there are challenges. We have two Londons –there is one where lots of people are doing very well, but we have another where far too many people are not seeing the fruits that are economy can bring.
“I went into politics because I want to build a fairer, more equal Streatham community and also a fairer, more equal Britain.
“My pledge to the people who I have the great honour and privilege of representing again is I will give every bit that I have done in the past and continue to do in the future to building a better community in this wonderful Lambeth of ours.”
He also drew attention to the contentious subject of gentrification in Brixton.
Mr Umunna added: “There is a lot of change going on in our community – gentrification is something that we need to have a comprehensive discussion about.
“It’s more complex than some have suggested and how we transition is something we all need to be involved in.
“One thing I’m clear on it’s not for politicians, no matter who they are, to impose a view of how we do things in Brixton and it’s got to be a community-led exploration of where we want to take things.
