Jeremy Corbyn made a direct appeal for unity in his closing speech at the inaugural conference of the new left-wing movement he is helping to build, acknowledging deep-seated frustrations with the party's own establishment. The event in Liverpool this weekend, attended by 2,500 delegates, was meant to mark a fresh start but was instead overshadowed by persistent internal divisions and a significant external challenge from a resurgent Green Party.
A Chaotic Birth and Internal Rifts
The party, which has controversially retained the working name Your Party, has been plagued by factionalism from its very inception. The project suffered an early blow dubbed "terrible Thursday" when Corbyn's team publicly contradicted co-founder Zarah Sultana's announcement of her departure from Labour, revealing he was not yet fully committed.
Further technical and financial missteps at launch, including a membership portal set up by Sultana that collected fees and data without full agreement, created headlines about mismanagement. The party's ranks have already splintered, with two of the six initial MP supporters—Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed—quitting, citing a toxic and insufficiently inclusive atmosphere.
This cultural divide presents a major challenge, with the party needing to bridge gaps between culturally conservative MPs elected on pro-Gaza tickets and progressive members focused on issues like transgender rights.
Decisions from Liverpool: A Name and a New Structure
After a membership vote, the party confirmed it would stick with the name Your Party, chosen by 37% of members over alternatives like Our Party and Popular Alliance. The more consequential decision was a narrow vote to adopt a model of collective leadership.
This system will see a member-led executive committee take major strategic decisions, with public-facing roles filled by a chair, deputy chair, and spokesperson. The move avoids a potentially bitter leadership contest between Corbyn and Sultana and aligns with Sultana's vision. In a further nod to her stance, delegates voted to allow dual membership with other political groups, a direct response to her boycott of Saturday's proceedings in solidarity with expelled delegates.
The Strategic Threat from the Greens
While Your Party grapples with its internal organisation, the Zack Polanski-led Green Party of England and Wales is making significant inroads on the progressive left. With membership now exceeding the Conservative Party and a £4 million windfall from new joiners, the Greens are capitalising on momentum that threatens to eclipse the fledgling Your Party.
Analysts suggest the Greens have absorbed a significant portion of voters who have become disillusioned with Your Party's chaotic start. This factional reputation, established before the party is even a year old, risks alienating a broader electorate seeking a credible alternative to Labour.
The Road Ahead: Policy, Candidates, and Public Perception
Your Party faces a formidable to-do list. It must decide swiftly if it will contest elections in May 2026 for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, and English local councils—a huge logistical challenge for candidate vetting, as Reform UK's recent troubles have demonstrated.
Critically, the party remains deliberately light on policy beyond a core stance on Gaza. Voters will need a clear platform, but crafting one carries risk. Positions perceived as too radical, such as leaving NATO—which polls show only 8% of the public support—could push soft-left voters towards the Liberal Democrats as a more moderate protest vote.
The weekend in Liverpool provided a structure but not necessarily clarity. Whether the decisions on collective leadership and a name will unite the party or simply provide a new framework for ongoing factional argument remains the central question for Corbyn's new political project.
