How many is too many?
Chuka Umunna last night became a Lib Dem , his third party in four months.
Less than four years ago he wanted to be Labour leader. Then he quit the party to help launch The Independent Group, now called Change UK (and which might be called something else again by the time you've finished reading this newsletter).
This morning he's a yellow, a party which many thought was his natural home all along .
One can look at this two ways: either he's courageously correcting his mistake in not joining the Lib Dems in the first place, given his soft left views and alignment with them on a second Brexit referendum – or, he's taking refuge in the easiest port in a storm and desperately seeking the backing of a party operation as he tries to save his seat in Streatham, South London.
Also, spare a thought for the Lib Dems' candidate for the constituency, who has worked the area, built local support and knocked doors only to be elbowed out for Umunna.
It's also difficult to see how his ambitions can be met by the Lib Dems, who are in the middle of Westminster's other leadership election.
With all due respect to candidates Sir Ed Davey and Jo Swinson, Umunna is more recognisable, better on TV and radio and unlikely to savour a prolonged spell of obscurity with Parliament's fourth biggest party.
Davey and Swinson, both of whom have welcomed the defection, could be forgiven for glancing over their shoulders.
Tory leadership hopefuls have until 1pm to quit the contest, which in reality is now a battle to join Boris Johnson in the final run off .
Matt Hancock and Sajid Javid are fishing in the same waters – where Jeremy Hunt has already cast his net – and it's hard to see how they could both justify going into the second round on Tuesday.
If one does pull out, it'll be interesting to see where they switch their support – whether they back the likely winner or whether they throw their weight in with the candidate whose views most clearly replicate their own.
Today's agenda:
The Commons isn't sitting.
10am - The latest court hearing in Julian Assange's legal fight.
What I am reading:
Chuka Umunna's Times interview.
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