Your Party, the new left-wing political force, is braced for an internal proxy war despite narrowly avoiding a direct leadership contest between its two most prominent figures, Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. Insiders have warned that the fundamental conflict between the camps of the former Labour leader and the independent MP will now play out through their representatives on the party's governing body.
A Vote for Collective Leadership
At its inaugural conference in Liverpool over the weekend, members voted in favour of an initial period where the party would be guided by a 16-strong central executive committee. This decision averted the other option on the table: a potentially brutal one-on-one leadership race between Corbyn and Sultana.
The pair have been in conflict for much of the party's brief existence. Disagreements have included Sultana's unilateral announcement of the party's formation and the launch of a membership drive, as well as complex battles over financial transfers. The tensions were visible at the conference, with Sultana boycotting the first day in protest after some of her supporters were expelled for holding membership in other political parties.
The Battle for the Soul of the Party
One party insider was blunt about the implications of the collective model, stating relations were long past "happy families." They explained: "Effectively what it means is that the battle continues, but via their representatives. We have avoided, by a members’ vote, the one-to-one leadership contest, but it’s still basically a battle for the soul of the party."
Another source offered a more optimistic view, arguing that avoiding a direct contest was a "de-escalatory option." They noted that "going straight into a leadership contest between Zarah and Jeremy would definitely be sub-optimal right now."
Under the agreed model, the 16 ordinary members of the executive will be joined by the party's four sitting MPs: Corbyn, Sultana, Shockat Adam, and Ayoub Khan. The executive will elect roles such as chair and spokesperson, who will form the public political leadership.
Future Challenges and Electoral Strategy
The internal strife presents a clear danger to the party's cohesion. One source suggested that if the executive became dominated by Sultana's supporters, the other MPs could walk out. Another insisted the infighting "has to be finite" if the party is to have a future.
In a significant policy move, members also voted to adopt a "targeted" electoral strategy, only standing in seats where they have a realistic chance of winning. This paves the way for potential local electoral alliances with the Green Party to avoid splitting the left-wing vote, particularly in next year's local elections.
While no formal pact exists, and any deals must be negotiated locally, it opens the door to cooperation in areas like Hackney, where Green mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett is mounting a strong challenge. The conference also saw members formally adopt the 'Your Party' name, which had been used as a placeholder since its launch earlier this year.
