Jeremy Corbyn's newly formed left-wing political project has officially become Your Party following a decisive vote by its membership, cementing the provisional name adopted at its launch earlier this year. The announcement came during the party's tense inaugural conference in Liverpool, which exposed deep internal divisions rather than presenting the fresh start many had hoped for.
Leadership Model Sparks Conflict
Members narrowly endorsed a member-led executive model with multiple public-facing roles, voting 51.6% in favour against 48.4% who preferred Corbyn's advocated model of a single leader. The result prevents an immediate leadership contest between Corbyn and co-founder Zarah Sultana, who had been at loggerheads throughout the conference.
Sultana celebrated the outcome as a victory for maximum member democracy, though critics within the party accused her of initially demanding co-leadership with Corbyn rather than genuine collective leadership. The party's executive will conduct a review of different leadership options, leaving open the possibility of a more traditional structure before the next general election.
Expulsions and Internal Tensions
The conference's first day saw Sultana boycott proceedings in protest at the expulsion of several members belonging to the Socialist Workers Party, which she described as a witch-hunt. When she finally addressed the conference on Sunday, Sultana delivered a blistering attack on decisions made at the top of the party, stating that bans and censorship on the conference floor were undemocratic and unacceptable.
Her speech received loud applause from some members while others remained seated, highlighting the clear factions within the new party. Sultana expressed contrition for what she called hiccups in the party's formation but insisted the movement must confront the previous day's events before moving forward.
In a significant policy shift, members voted 69.2% in favour of allowing dual membership with other political groups, though such arrangements will require ratification by the party's executive to ensure alignment with Your Party's values. This vote came against the backdrop of infighting that saw Sultana refusing to enter the conference hall on Saturday in solidarity with expelled delegates.
Corbyn's Appeal for Unity
As the conference concluded with members singing the anti-fascist folk song Bella Ciao, Corbyn made an emotional appeal for unity, acknowledging he understood all the frustrations surrounding the party's establishment. His speech received muted applause, and he notably thanked Karie Murphy, his former chief of staff during his Labour leadership, who has become a controversial figure within Your Party.
The MP for Islington North had opened the conference by acknowledging mistakes in the party's foundation while emphasising the unique opportunity to create a socialist party of mass appeal against what he described as a triopoly of political thinking in parliament.
However, the party's foundation has been overshadowed by internal conflict, resulting in a botched membership launch and threats of legal action. The divisions have already cost the party support, with two independent MPs, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed, withdrawing from the founding process due to the infighting.
Your Party now faces the challenge of uniting its factions while competing with the Greens under new leader Zack Polanski for the position of leading voice to the left of Labour.
