New Party's Unity Plea Shattered by Internal Warfare
Jeremy Corbyn's fledgling political project, Your Party, descended into open conflict on Saturday as co-founder Zarah Sultana dramatically boycotted the opening day of its inaugural conference in Liverpool.
The rupture came just hours after former Labour leader Mr Corbyn had appealed for 'unity' following months of chaos and infighting that has plagued the party's foundation.
'Witch-Hunt' Allegations Rock Conference Opening
Ms Sultana, who represents a rival power centre to Mr Corbyn within the new party, claimed she was protesting against a 'witch-hunt' by 'nameless, faceless bureaucrats' after learning that several of her allies would be denied entry to the conference rally.
In an impromptu press conference staged in protest, the MP raged against what she described as a 'toxic culture that is ridden with leaks to the Press, smears, allegations and sabotage'.
'The decisions that have been made today have been undemocratic,' Ms Sultana declared, insisting they 'have been imposed by nameless, faceless bureaucrats'.
Your Party officials swiftly rejected claims of a 'purge', labelling them 'baseless allegations', though a spokesman was unable to identify who had made the decision to ban individuals from the conference.
Leadership Tensions Boil Over
The public falling-out exposes deepening fractures within the nascent party, with Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana effectively competing for influence over its future direction.
When questioned about his relationship with Ms Sultana, Mr Corbyn notably declined to describe her as a friend, instead stating they were 'colleagues in Parliament, and we obviously communicate and so on'.
Earlier in the day, Mr Corbyn had hinted at his willingness to stand as leader if the party membership desired, stating: 'I'm very happy to serve the party in whatever capacity they decide they want me to serve.'
Despite the tensions, Ms Sultana's allies made clear she would remain within Your Party even if Mr Corbyn assumed leadership, though she would 'reserve the right' to continue influencing the party's direction.
Her supporters have gone further, claiming she would defeat Mr Corbyn in an open leadership contest, setting the stage for potential future confrontations.
Broader Troubles Plague Launch Event
The leadership dispute compounded other difficulties during the conference's opening day:
- The conference livestream was suspended when stewards expelled a heckler from the main conference room
- One speaker drew jeers after suggesting Your Party should collaborate with Nigel Farage's Reform UK
- Independent MP Ayoub Khan admitted to having killed a dog with his bare hands in what he described as a situation where 'it was either a baby being mauled or restraining the dog'
Kingston councillor James Giles, one of those barred from the conference, claimed he and others were being excluded on 'completely spurious grounds' due to a 'factional purge of those who support Zarah' by Mr Corbyn's allies.
'This looks and feels like a coordinated purge, an attempt to silence independent voices and grassroots activists,' Mr Giles stated.
The controversy casts a shadow over Sunday's expected decision about whether the party will elect a single leader or opt for collective leadership, a choice that could either resolve or exacerbate the current divisions.
In his opening speech, Mr Corbyn had struck a conciliatory tone, declaring: 'As a party, we've got to come together and be united because division and disunity will not serve the interests of the people that we want to represent.'
He added: 'I've had enough of top-down parties. I spent a lifetime in the Labour Party mostly fighting Labour Party bureaucracy. I don't want to repeat that in Your Party.'
Despite these aspirations, the events of Saturday suggest the new party is already grappling with the very internal conflicts its founders hoped to leave behind.
