Members of the new leftwing party provisionally named Your Party have voted narrowly in favour of a collective leadership model, a victory for former Labour MP Zarah Sultana. The vote, held at the party's founding conference in Liverpool, saw 51.6% support for collective leadership against 48.4% opposed.
The decision marks a setback for Jeremy Corbyn, who had argued that a single leader would be easier for the public to understand. Sultana had boycotted the first day of the conference amid disagreements over the party's structure, including the expulsion of delegates linked to other leftwing groups, which she called a 'witch-hunt'.
Under the new model, a member-led executive will make key decisions on management and strategy, while a chair, deputy chair, and spokesperson will provide public leadership. Members also voted to allow dual-membership with other political groups, though members of other parties can only join after their party is ratified as aligned with Your Party's values.
Corbyn opened the conference on Saturday with a call for unity, acknowledging 'mistakes' in the party's foundation. He described the party as a 'unique opportunity' to build a socialist party of mass appeal against a 'triopoly of political thinking in parliament'.
The party's launch has been overshadowed by internal conflict, including a botched membership launch and threats of legal action. Two other independent MPs, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed, withdrew from the founding process due to infighting. The party faces competition from the Greens, who have gained momentum under new leader Zack Polanski.
