Jeremy Corbyn has pointedly declined to describe his Your Party co-founder, Zarah Sultana MP, as a friend, as the fledgling political group gathers for its inaugural conference in Liverpool amidst public internal tensions.
A Strained Partnership
Speaking to Sky News on the eve of the conference on Saturday 29 November 2025, the former Labour leader acknowledged there had been "stresses and strains" in setting up the new party. However, he sought to project unity, stating the situation had become "a lot better in the last few days and weeks and we're going to get through this weekend."
When asked directly if he and Ms Sultana were friends, Mr Corbyn offered a notably reserved response. He said they were "colleagues in parliament, and we obviously communicate and so on." This carefully worded reply underscores the publicly strained relationship between the two co-founders, who appeared at separate events ahead of the main conference.
Allegations and Financial Disputes
The rift was thrown into sharp relief by previous claims from Ms Sultana that she was being "sidelined" by what she described as a "sexist boys' club" within the new party. Mr Corbyn addressed these allegations, calling them an "unfortunate choice of words." He added that he had been more involved in organising the conference than the MP for Coventry South.
Further complicating matters, the Islington North MP revealed that the party is still waiting for Ms Sultana to transfer all the funds she raised from supporters. "Obviously having money up front for a conference is a big help," he remarked. In her defence, Ms Sultana has insisted that she is transferring the donations in stages rather than in a single lump sum.
Conference Decisions and Member Expulsions
The weekend gathering in Liverpool is a critical moment for the nascent party, with supporters set to make key decisions about its future identity. Members will choose between four options for a permanent name:
- Your Party
- Our Party
- Popular Alliance
- For the Many
Significantly, Ms Sultana's preferred name, "The Left," did not make the final ballot. Similarly, her advocacy for a co-leadership model has been bypassed, with members only able to select between single leadership or collective leadership structures.
Speaking at her own pre-conference rally, Ms Sultana blamed a "nameless, faceless bureaucrat" for restricting these choices. The conference also risked disruption due to a series of member expulsions. One expelled member, Lewis Nielsen, accused a "clique" of trying to "take over" the party. Your Party sources stated the expulsions related to members of the Socialist Workers Party, which they said was not allowed to hold membership in another national party.
Ms Sultana criticised what she called a "culture of paranoia at the top" and suggested that the same people who had been briefing against her were now responsible for expelling members. Mr Corbyn is scheduled to open the conference on Saturday, with the results of the crucial votes on the party's name and leadership structure expected to be announced on Sunday.
