Sultana accuses Corbyn of baseless character attacks as Your Party row widens

LONDON — Zarah Sultana, the Coventry South MP, said she is consulting specialist defamation lawyers after accusing Jeremy Corbyn and several other independent MPs involved in a new left-wing party of launching 'baseless attacks' on her character. The disclosures come as the party faces questions over a membership portal that invited supporters to join for £5 a month or £55 a year, and as the fledgling group prepares for its November founding conference.

Sultana had posted on social media claiming more than 20,000 people had signed up to the party. Corbyn, who launched the group with other former Labour MPs earlier this year, issued a statement signed by four other independent MPs saying the emails were 'unauthorised' and that any direct debits set up should be 'immediately cancelled'. He declined to comment on Sultana's latest claims.

The dispute has exposed deep splits within the new party, which was launched in July and is due to hold its founding conference in November. Campaign materials currently use 'Your Party' as a working title while the group weighs its official name.

Sultana described Corbyn and others as a 'sexist boys' club' and said she had been sidelined by members of the party's working group. She added that the membership portal was 'in line with the road map set out to members'.

The party said it had referred the matter to the UK's data protection watchdog. In a post on X, Sultana said that 'a number of false and defamatory statements have been published about me concerning the launch of Your Party's membership portal' and that 'baseless attacks on my character are politically-motivated' and she would hold those responsible to account.

Sultana insisted that at no point were members' data misused or put at risk and that funds from members were ringfenced and protected in the appropriate manner.

The development remains a test for the party's governance and for trust as it seeks to formalize a platform ahead of its November conference.