Sultana seeks reconciliation with Corbyn as Your Party faces ongoing divisions

A widening rift within Your Party appears to be narrowing, at least in public, after Zarah Sultana signaled a willingness to reconcile with Jeremy Corbyn and move forward with the left-wing group. In a statement posted on X, the Coventry South MP said she was determined to reconcile with Corbyn and to pursue unity that centers the grassroots of the movement. She also said she would not pursue further defamation action against Corbyn or others involved in the party’s formation, moves she described as aimed at stabilizing the fledgling organization as it prepares for its inaugural conference in November.

The shift comes after days of public disagreement over the party’s direction and leadership structure. Sultana and Corbyn have both signaled that they want the conference to proceed on schedule, with Corbyn allies expressing disappointment at what they called deep divisions. In her post, Sultana urged continued dialogue with Corbyn and stressed the importance of a unified approach that keeps the party focused on its grassroots base. Mediation efforts began last Friday as both sides sought to avert a protracted dispute that threatened to derail the conference timeline.

The dispute intensified earlier this week around how the party would expand its supporter base. An email inviting supporters to sign up for a £5 monthly or £55 annual membership was sent by the party’s leadership and widely circulated on social media. Corbyn later said the emails were unauthorized and should be ignored. Sultana, meanwhile, had publicly promoted the sign-up, and she said on Friday that she had instructed defamation lawyers after what she described as baseless attacks on her character following the launch of the membership portal. She said more than 20,000 people had signed up, and she claimed she had been subjected to a sexist environment within the party’s ranks.

The leadership dispute is underscored by questions about control of Your Party’s messaging and branding. The sign-up initiative prompted a split among allies of Corbyn, who had previously indicated that the party’s name and branding were open to debate. In the letter signed by four independent MPs who helped found the party—Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohamed and Shockat Adam—the email from Corbyn’s side urged supporters to ignore the unsigned memos and to cancel any direct debits that had been set up. Notably, Sultana’s name was missing from that list, highlighting visible tensions over who is steering the party and how it is being presented to potential members.

The broader context for Your Party’s jitters goes back to July, when the party was announced amid internal disagreements over structure, leadership, and branding. Corbyn allies have said they are disappointed by the divisions that have emerged, while some supporters have warned that the leadership row could threaten the party’s viability ahead of its planned conference. Corbyn has not ruled out a co-leadership arrangement, though he has not formally agreed to such an arrangement.

Sultana described the launch of the membership portal as consistent with the roadmap that had been shared with members and said funds raised would be safeguarded by a company established by the party until the conference in November. Your Party’s group has referred data protection concerns about the handling of supporter details to the Information Commissioner’s Office, signaling ongoing unease about how data is being used as the party expands its base.

The stalemate over the party’s name also remains unresolved. Sultana had previously signaled a preference for a name other than Your Party, suggesting The Left Party, while Corbyn indicated the name could remain a possibility. At present, the final decision on the party’s branding is to be put to a vote by supporters, a step that could determine the direction of the movement as it seeks to capitalize on the momentum surrounding its founding figures.

In her latest remarks, Sultana framed the current phase as a regrettable but navigable moment. She acknowledged that people were demoralized but emphasized her confidence that the conference would go ahead and that, with ongoing discussions, a way to unify could emerge. The parties have stressed the importance of keeping the conference as a focal point for mobilizing supporters and defining the party’s future trajectory, but a concrete path forward remains unsettled as mediation continues.

As Your Party moves through this period of introspection and negotiation, observers will be watching closely to see whether the leadership rift can be bridged in time for the November event. The outcome could set the tone for the party’s ability to translate initial enthusiasm into a sustainable political organization, or whether it will remain fragmented as it acts on the ambitions of its prominent figures.