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Labour front bencher concedes aides set up personal Wikipedia page

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By John Glenday, Reporter

April 8, 2013 | 2 min read

Chuka Umunna, a rising star in the Labour party, has conceded that a personal Wikipedia entry was likely penned and edited by his own aides.

The article on the online encyclopaedia was set up in October 2007 under the pseudonym ‘Socialdemocrat’ and covered Umunna’s legal career in detail.

The same unidentified author also went on to edit two further Wikipedia entries, both of which also had links to Umunna; one for left-wing pressure group Compass and another of an exchange with former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie on Question Time.

Speaking to the Daily telegraph Umunna said: “I don't have any recollection of that log-in or any of the changes. But I can't say for certain that someone with my campaign did not set up that log-in."

It is unclear whether this contravenes Wikipedia’s terms of use which state that individuals should not “edit Wikipedia to promote your own interests, or those of other individuals or of organizations, including employers.

“Do not write about these things unless you are certain that a neutral editor would agree that your edits improve Wikipedia.”

Umunna recently came in for criticism for a historic social media post in which he enquired as to how best to avoid ‘trash’ in London.

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