Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna stormed out of a live Sky News interview today following a presenter’s suggestion that he wouldn’t answer questions because he was unaware of the party line.
The shadow business secretary was asked by Dermot Murnaghan whether he thought the letter, written by Eric Pickles and co-signed by Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, was patronising to British Muslims.
Mr Umunna said that hadn’t read the letter and was invited by the presenter to come back on the show half an hour later when he had.
UNIMPRESSED: Chuka Umunna being interviewed on Sky News
The Streatham MP said: “I think you’re being a bit ridiculous right now.
“Your viewers can form their own views.
“Nobody told me I was going to come on this programme and be asked to agree whether I thought the government was patronising Muslim people and Muslim leaders.”
When Mr Umunna suggested that the presenter wasn’t being ‘terribly fair’ Mr Murnaghan retorted: “So you’re not going to speak until you get the party line right? Ok well we’ll have to end it there.”
In response Mr Umunna sighed and gave an angry, dismissive gesture before walking away from the camera.
You can see the video here:
Images and video courtesy of Sky News via YouTube, with thanks
