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The launch of Your Party has been marked by a challenging beginning. In the lead-up to this weekend’s founding conference, the party has been wracked by internal disagreements over a variety of issues, ranging from finances and leadership choices to even disputes about its very name. The opening session was marred by the expulsion of several members, with founding MP Zarah Sultana staging a boycott of the first day in protest against what she described as a “witch hunt.” Despite the turmoil, the party has now formalized its identity through an official name and constitution, introducing a leadership model that emphasizes revolutionary control by ordinary members instead of concentrating authority in a single figurehead. While these foundational elements are in place, the conference’s disorderly nature raises questions about the direction and stability of this fledgling political movement.
When Jeremy Corbyn took to the stage at Liverpool’s ACC conference centre, his circumstances had shifted dramatically since his last appearance there as leader of Labour. Previously, he had addressed a party deeply divided and headed toward a debilitating defeat in the 2019 general election. This time, Corbyn was at the helm of a brand-new political project, formed after his expulsion from Labour. However, familiar patterns of factional conflict have re-emerged within Your Party. Significant segments of the parliamentary contingent, including Sultana, were absent, reflecting ongoing tensions surrounding the expulsion of members affiliated with the Socialist Workers Party, whom party officials claimed violated rules forbidding dual membership in other political organisations. Attendance numbers at the conference were also substantially reduced from the initial goal of 13,000 delegates down to just 2,500, which rendered the large venue feeling notably empty.
Outside the conference, protesters gathered under the harsh Mersey wind to draw attention to the expulsions. Mish Rahman, a former Labour National Executive Committee member who exited the party alleging a loss of integrity under current leadership, urged the new party to rally for change. Citing activist Angela Davis, Rahman called on attendees to no longer “accept the things you cannot change” but instead to “change the things you cannot accept.” His sentiments echoed those of Max Shanly, another former Labour member, who had previously called for transformation “by any means necessary.” Inside the conference hall, Corbyn called for unity, emphasizing that division and disunity would be detrimental to the people the party aims to represent. He highlighted the unique opportunity to create “a socialist party of mass appeal” capable of challenging mainstream parliamentary forces. Despite his call for cohesion, much of the discussion remained preoccupied with the controversy surrounding the member expulsions, and the overall atmosphere suggested that goodwill among organisers and supporters was wearing thin.
Yet amid the friction, enthusiasm persisted on the conference floor. Party organiser Nick Parker emphasized that disagreements were natural given the importance of the political project at hand. He downplayed the infighting as a distraction from the party’s shared vision of opposing austerity, privatisation, war, and racism. Bonnie Ambrose similarly expressed that while there is no flawless way to found a party, the determination to make a meaningful difference was unmistakable. Delegates see the Labour government as deeply unpopular, especially accusing it of adopting harsh immigration stances akin to those of Reform UK, thus opening space for a distinct left-wing alternative. Some younger activists remain critical of the Green Party, whose growing membership under eco-populist leader Zack Polanski has not convinced them that it truly centers working-class concerns. Ultimately, Your Party departed Liverpool with a name, constitution, and leadership structure promising to decentralize power, though official policies have yet to be established. With a reported membership of 55,000, the party aspires to build local branches and train organisers, aiming to embed itself in communities and trade unions. The path ahead remains uncertain, as public support has waned from earlier polling highs. Now focused on implementing new rules and selecting candidates for upcoming elections, Your Party faces the challenge of overcoming months of internal strife to present itself as a credible political alternative
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