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Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s newly established leftwing political party will officially be named Your Party, following a member vote. However, the inaugural conference over the weekend revealed deep internal conflicts within the group. When members were asked to pick the permanent name, just over 37% chose Your Party, which had been tentatively used since the party’s launch earlier this year. Other shortlisted options included For The Many and Popular Alliance, each receiving approximately 25% support, while Our Party secured about 14%.
Tensions between Sultana and Corbyn became evident once again on Sunday, as Sultana publicly criticized the party leadership after several Socialist Workers party members were expelled, prompting her to boycott the conference’s opening day in protest. The party membership, gathered both in Liverpool and participating online, narrowly approved a governance structure centered on a collective leadership model, with 51.6% voting in favor. Corbyn had advocated for a single leader, cautioning that multiple leaders could confuse the public’s understanding of party leadership. The party will revisit its leadership structure within two years, leaving open the possibility of shifting to a more traditional model before the next general election.
Toward the conference’s conclusion, which ended with attendees singing the Italian anti-fascist anthem Bella ciao, Corbyn appealed for unity among members. He also acknowledged the frustrations related to the party’s formation and, to a subdued response, thanked Karie Murphy, his former chief of staff, who remains a controversial figure within Your Party. Meanwhile, Sultana praised the adoption of the collective leadership model as a victory for “maximum member democracy,” though some party insiders contested this characterization, arguing that she had primarily pushed for co-leadership alongside Corbyn from the outset.
In her remarks from the main stage, Sultana expressed regret for the “hiccups” experienced during the party’s formation, including disputes over finances, the name, and her unilateral announcement of the party’s launch, which contributed to two independent MPs departing. She condemned the Saturday expulsions and bans, calling them “undemocratic” and “an attack on members and on this movement,” attributing such decisions to the leadership rather than the members. Opponents within the party, including Corbyn supporters, accused Sultana of trying to undermine Corbyn by appealing to a purist socialist vision. They also alleged that her faction aims to marginalize socially conservative Muslims and allow far-left groups undue influence. The conference debates remained heated, with some participants demanding the current leadership step down. Sultana reiterated her stance that Your Party should adopt an anti-Zionist position and sever all ties with Israel, which she de
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