Leadership rift emerges at Your Party conference
The inaugural conference of Your Party opened this weekend with a fundamental disagreement between its two most prominent figures over how the leftwing movement should be governed. Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, who co-founded the party together, revealed contrasting preferences for the leadership structure during the Liverpool gathering.
Differing visions for party direction
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Jeremy Corbyn confirmed his preference for a single leadership model and indicated he would likely stand for the position if members voted for this option. Meanwhile, Zarah Sultana declared she would vote for collective leadership, expressing her belief that political movements shouldn't be dominated by "sole personalities."
The Guardian has learned that Sultana would run against Corbyn if members ultimately choose to elect a single leader. Delegates at the conference face a crucial decision between selecting an individual leader or establishing a collective of lay members - those not currently serving as MPs or councillors - to steer the fledgling organisation.
Tensions and temporary truce
The party has experienced significant internal conflict since its initial announcement in July, when Sultana announced her defection from Labour alongside plans for the new political organisation. Corbyn's allies were quick to clarify that no final decisions had been made about the leadership structure at that time.
The two founders have since established a fragile peace, with Sultana comparing their relationship to that of Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame. Corbyn stated he would "probably favour the single leadership model" but promised to "live with whatever [members] decide on." When questioned by The Guardian about his potential candidacy, Corbyn responded: "I'm very happy to serve the party in whatever capacity they decide they want me to serve."
Sultana revealed she supported collective leadership primarily because the option for two co-leaders wasn't presented to members. She expressed regret about this omission, noting that "the fact it hasn't been given to members as an option to vote on is regrettable, and the fact that has been decided by a faceless, nameless bureaucrat is quite concerning."
Democratic principles and future considerations
Explaining her position further, Sultana said she was "championing collective leadership" because it offered "maximum member democracy." She emphasised that movements shouldn't be "led by sole personalities" but should "represent the broad mass movement."
Sultana confirmed she would consider running for sole leadership if members selected that model, promising to "respect whatever the members decide and completely ride in behind that."
Both figures indicated openness to electoral pacts with other leftwing parties, including the Greens. Sultana stressed the importance of collaboration "to stop Nigel Farage getting into Number 10," describing this as "the guiding principle for all of us who want to stop fascism."
Corbyn said cooperation decisions would "essentially be a decision for the local branches of Your Party" but didn't rule out working with the Green party, which has seen increased popularity under new leader Zack Polanski.
Financial transparency and internal challenges
Tensions between Corbyn, the former Labour leader now serving as independent MP for Islington North, and Sultana, who represents Coventry South, previously escalated when Sultana launched a membership portal that collected approximately £800,000 in donations along with substantial member data.
Sultana clarified on Saturday that £600,000 had been transferred from a holding company to Your Party, with the remaining funds to follow after processing liabilities.
Despite claiming to get on "really well" with Corbyn and coordinating on conference planning, Sultana was notably absent during his opening address on Saturday morning. Relations are believed to be particularly strained between Sultana and Corbyn's former chief of staff, Karie Murphy.
Addressing internal culture
Sultana acknowledged the persistence of a "toxic culture" within Your Party that has led to "bullying, intimidation and smears" and "acts of deliberate sabotage." She stated this culture "needs to be rooted out" and attributed it to individuals around Corbyn rather than the former leader himself.
"I would say that is directly from the handbook of the Labour right," Sultana commented. "It's shocking to experience in a new left wing, socialist party. We do need to dismantle that culture."
She suggested that some of Corbyn's associates had "learned the wrong lessons from their time in the Labour party" and were now employing similar tactics they had previously suffered from.
In his Saturday speech, Corbyn called for unity, stating: "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 also advocated for "public, democratic ownership" of the water industry, led chants of "free, free Palestine" and urged members to "campaign forevermore for real socialism and real social justice."
