Your Party's Leadership Election Decides Future Amid Corbyn-Sultana Rift
The leftwing Your Party, co-founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, is poised for a critical juncture as its leadership election results are announced on Thursday. This decision follows nearly eight months of public disputes, accusations of sexism, and deep divisions over policy and direction, with insiders warning that the party's very survival hangs in the balance.
Two Competing Visions for a Leftwing Future
The election centers on two fundamentally different approaches to leadership. Corbyn advocates for a single leader model, while Sultana pushes for a collective leadership structure through the Central Executive Committee (CEC). The outcome will determine control of 24 CEC seats, shaping the party's political trajectory.
"The future of the party lies in the balance," revealed a Corbyn-aligned insider. "You have two fundamentally differing visions of the party and what it is for."
Months of Turmoil and Public Spats
Since its launch last summer as a socialist alternative to Labour, Your Party has been plagued by infighting. The unity between Corbyn and Sultana spectacularly collapsed in September when Sultana unveiled a new membership portal on X, urging members to pay £55. Corbyn dismissed it as a "false membership system," leading Sultana to accuse the party of being run by a "sexist boys' club."
By November, two of five Independent Alliance MPs had quit over "persistent infighting and a struggle for power." Sultana later boycotted the party's inaugural conference, calling delegate expulsions a "witch-hunt."
Contentious Election Process and Member Frustration
The leadership election has been dominated by Corbyn's The Many slate and Sultana's Grassroots Left, leaving little room for independent candidates. Stuart Hill, an independent candidate for the north-east region, expressed frustration: "I would say the vast majority of ordinary members have been eliminated from any kind of participation."
Hill suggested that both Corbyn and Sultana might be driven "more by ego than by the best interests of Your Party," warning of potential departures if either dominates.
Financial Disputes and Legal Concerns
A significant point of contention involves hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations and fees. Sultana, who has sole control over MOU Operations Ltd, transferred £600,000 of approximately £850,000 to party coffers, retaining the rest for potential legal expenses. An additional £500,000 collected through an unauthorized membership portal remains unresolved.
The Information Commissioner's Office advised that Sultana's portal launch might involve "serious criminal activity" and should be referred to police, though no further action was taken.
Post-Election Scenarios and Long-Term Challenges
Speculation abounds that if Sultana emerges victorious, Corbyn and the remaining Independent Alliance MPs might quit. Conversely, a Corbyn win could pave the way for independent support in winnable constituencies. However, insiders caution that regardless of the outcome, the road to electoral viability remains steep.
"I think once you are a laughing stock in the eyes of the public, it's difficult to move on from that," one insider noted. "And if both Jeremy and Zarah get elected onto the CEC, I don't see how the fighting stops."
Inacio Vieira, a Sultana ally, emphasized her commitment to a democratic party with space for all factions: "It will have arguments that are internal. But we feel like that's how we grow."
As Your Party members await Thursday's results, the election represents not just a leadership choice but a referendum on whether the party can overcome its internal divisions and establish itself as a credible political force.
