The new left-wing political movement spearheaded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana has taken a significant step forward by announcing a shortlist of four potential names for its permanent identity.
The Four Contenders for a New Political Identity
Members of the fledgling party, which currently operates under the temporary moniker Your Party, will be given the final say on its official name during its inaugural conference in Liverpool this weekend. According to information obtained by The Mirror, the four options on the table are: Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance, and For the Many.
This decision follows a process where thousands of suggestions were submitted by supporters. However, the party engaged in discussions with the Electoral Commission, which led to some proposals, such as the Left Party or the People's Party, being ruled out. The initial launch of the party without a fixed name attracted some mockery, but senior figures defended the move, insisting they were committed to letting their supporters shape the organisation from the outset.
Founding Conference Amidst Internal Challenges
The naming vote is a central part of a founding conference that comes at a critical time for the group. Since its launch in the summer, the party has been dogged by toxic in-fighting, explosive public spats among its leadership, and a row over donations.
The internal turmoil has also led to the departure of two of the independent MPs who were part of the project, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed. Alongside deciding the party's name, members in Liverpool will also vote on a preferred leadership model for the organisation, which claims to have around 50,000 members.
A Democratic Vision for a New Political Force
A party spokesman emphasised their unique approach, stating: "We're doing politics differently: from the ground up, not top-down. This weekend, our members will do something historic: found a new kind of political party, one rooted in and accountable to communities, not vested interests." They added, "Our programme, structures, strategy and even name will all be decided by our members. There's a democratic deficit in British politics - we're turning the leaf."
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who will address the conference, said: "Over the last few months I've travelled the length and breadth of the country, speaking to people, and learning about their visions for a member-led party. I am very excited to get this party started — and begin the work of building a majority for real political change."
Zarah Sultana, the MP who quit Labour to sit as an independent, echoed this sentiment, stating: "I'm looking forward to the Your Party founding conference, where we'll work collectively toward our shared socialist vision. We're building a new kind of party – rooted in and democratically accountable to a mass movement."
The conference represents a pivotal moment for the project, which faces questions over its ability to move beyond internal power struggles and establish itself as a cohesive force on the British left. This challenge is amplified by the recent rise in poll numbers for the Green Party under its new leader, Zack Polanski.
