Corbyn allies clash with Sultana over new left-wing party

Allies of Jeremy Corbyn expressed disappointment on Friday at the deepening divisions between the former Labour leader and Zarah Sultana over the formation of a new left-wing party. The public dispute, unfolding as the project prepares for its founding conference in November, marks the most significant test yet of whether a coalition around Corbyn and his allies can translate into a durable political vehicle. Sultana accused Corbyn of presiding over a sexist, “boys’ club” atmosphere and said she had been sidelined by others within the party’s working group. Those involved in the project told the BBC that while attempts at reconciliation might still be pursued, confidence in a smooth path forward is fading among some of the most prominent backers of the venture. The row comes amid a broader question about whether a new left alternative can attract broad support or whether infighting will impede its progress.

In recent days, a fundraising email sent to supporters invited people to sign up for full membership for £5 a month or £55 a year. Sultana, who has been publicly advocating for a political vehicle built around her and Corbyn, posted on social media that more than 20,000 people had signed up. Corbyn’s team pushed back, saying the emails were “unauthorised” and should be ignored, and that any direct debits should be canceled immediately. The joint statement disowning the emails was signed by four independent MPs involved in founding the party — Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohamed and Shockat Adam — but conspicuously did not include Sultana’s name. The nascent party, which has yet to settle on an official name, has been referred to in campaign materials as “Your Party.” Some allies of Corbyn suspect Sultana may have been attempting to build support and sign people up ahead of a formal leadership decision that has not yet been made. Corbyn has not ruled out a co-leadership, but neither has he agreed to it, and skepticism remains among some who worry about how the leadership structure would function in practice.

In a statement on Thursday, Sultana said she had opened a membership portal to allow supporters to engage and organise, insisting the move was in line with the roadmap set out for members and that the portal was a safe, legitimate mechanism for the party’s operations. She said membership funds were being held by a company set up by the party to safeguard money until its founding conference in November. Allies of Corbyn rejected the claim that Sultana had been shut out from consultations and said no decision had been made on data handling or finances. The party has referred the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which said it is assessing the information provided. The development underscores the friction enveloping an effort that began with fanfare earlier this year and has since faced growing scrutiny about its governance and viability.

Andrew Fisher, a former Corbyn policy director, described the dispute as “a very unedifying spectacle” played out in public between two of the movement’s most prominent figures. He told BBC Radio 4’s World at One that while there is clear enthusiasm for a new left-wing project, infighting could undermine its appeal. “If they can’t get their act together between them, it doesn’t give people a lot of faith that the vehicle can get off the ground,” Fisher said. He warned that potential supporters might look elsewhere, suggesting they could gravitate toward the Green Party if the left’s new project remains mired in dispute. Zach Polanski, newly installed leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, responded by acknowledging a personal affinity for Corbyn and Sultana but emphasized momentum within his own party. “The Green Party just really have momentum at the moment, and we don’t have time to waste,” Polanski said. “There are many people who want to see a party ready to challenge Reform and challenge this deeply unpopular Labour government, and that’s what I intend to do.”

The row is the latest in a series of early tensions within the nascent group, which launched in July and plans its founding conference in November. The two have also clashed over the party’s branding, with Sultana in July insisting it would not be called Your Party and favoring an alternative such as The Left Party, while Corbyn hinted the name might stay under consideration. The final decision on the party’s name is set to be put to a vote by supporters. Despite the bumpy start, the party says more than 750,000 people have signed up to get involved since its launch, signaling a substantial appetite for a new left-wing vehicle even as experts warn that ongoing disputes could hinder its ability to translate interest into electoral viability.

[IMAGE1] [IMAGE2] [IMAGE3]

The political landscape on Britain’s left remains fluid. Support for a new vehicle that could unify former Labour supporters and others disillusioned with the current governing party remains high in principle, but observers say effective governance, transparent fundraising, and clear leadership structures will be essential to sustain that interest. Critics have warned that persistent public disagreements between high-profile figures could empower rival options, including the Greens, which have already seen a surge in membership since Polanski’s leadership move earlier this month. The Greens’ messaging has focused on ready-to-go policy positions and organizational momentum, something some bookmakers in the political market say could attract a broader electorate that wants a force to challenge both Reform UK and the governing Labour Party.

As the party’s November conference approaches, organizers face a delicate balancing act between energising supporters and ensuring the internal architecture can withstand public scrutiny. The ICO’s involvement underscores the seriousness with which data, fundraising, and governance issues are being treated. For now, the question remains whether the friction between Sultana and Corbyn will be resolved, whether the party’s branding will settle on a name acceptable to its backers, and whether the group can convert a surge of sign-ups into a coherent, electable political force that can compete with established parties in a country watching its political center-right and center-left realign after years of volatility.