The tragic family secret of Chuka Umunna: Why his father's mysterious car crash death has made him so protective of his family

Chuka Umunna's father, Bennett (right), was killed in mysterious car crash in Nigeria which friends fear was a 'political assassination'. Mr Umunna was the bookies' favorite to emerge as Labour leader, but bowed out of the contest claiming he was not ready to put himself and his family through the intense scrutiny that comes with the position. It is thought his fierce protection of the women in his life, pictured (left) with his mother Patricia and sister Chinwe, could have stemmed from the fact that he was forced to become the 'man of the family' aged just 13. The high-flying MP for Streatham, in south London, also wanted to protect the privacy of his girlfriend, Alice Sullivan, with whom he is planning to start a family.