CHUKA UMUNNA continued his search for a new set of political pall-bearers over the weekend, with reports claiming that he could stand for the Liberal Democrats at the next general election.

The Streatham MP quit the Labour Party in February to help form The Independent Group, which later became Change UK. He left Change UK last week following its disastrous showing in the European elections, despite having accused another Change UK candidate, David McDonald, of having “let down his fellow candidates and activists” when he deserted to the Lib Dems in May.

Change UK’s new chief Anna Soubry, a Tory defector, said yesterday she was “more sad than you can imagine” that Mr Umunna had left the group since she saw him as a possible future prime minister.