Zarah Sultana Says New Party Is Aiming to ‘run Government’

New Left-Wing Movement Aims to “Run Government”

Zarah Sultana, a Member of Parliament from Coventry South, announced her plans to form a new political party with Jeremy Corbyn in July. The party, currently operating under the temporary name Your Party, aims to “run” the government and has quickly attracted hundreds of thousands of sign-ups. However, the fledgling movement has faced significant internal challenges.

Internal Disputes and Financial Challenges

The party’s early months have been marked by disputes over leadership, finances, and even its name. According to Sultana, three officials quit the board of MoU Operations Ltd, a company set up to oversee the party’s finances and membership, leaving her as the sole director. The resignations followed reports that the party is still trying to recover around £800,000 in donations and data held by MoU.

The problems stem from a schism within the party caused when Sultana launched a membership portal through its official email account, taking payment and data from an alleged 20,000 people.

Corbyn branded these emails “unauthorised” and urged supporters to cancel direct debits. The membership portal was later replaced but not before the dispute escalated into legal threats and accusations of a “sexist boys’ club.” Despite these issues, Sultana and Corbyn have since reconciled.

Name Disputes and Future Leadership

The party will be “socialist, democratic, and member-led,” according to Sultana. She hopes to co-lead the new party with Corbyn but is open to the possibility of a single leader if members opt for it at the founding conference in Liverpool next month.

There are ongoing disputes over the party’s name. While Sultana has pushed for “The Left Party,” Corbyn hinted that “Your Party” could remain. Members will vote on the official name during the founding conference, which is set to take place “2 days ago.”

Political and Economic Context

Sultana’s new party aims to focus on nationalising key industries, building council homes, and providing secure jobs. She states that her movement will work with a resurgent Green Party in an effort to “stop Reform UK.” Asked whether her party would split the left vote and take votes away from Labour, Sultana argued that the Labour Party had created this situation by enabling genocide and passing through austerity measures.

According to Sultana, there is a broader crisis in politics driven by voters feeling “angry” due to years of austerity. She believes her new party represents an alternative for the left, offering choices beyond traditional centre-left parties like Labour. The party’s surge in support has seen Reform UK open up a 10-point lead in national polls.

“Zarah Sultana told BBC’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson: ‘This is a 10, 20, 30-year project.’ She added that the Labour Party was quite content because it thought the left had nowhere else to go – and now the left has choices.”

Expert Analysis and Future Implications

The formation of this new party marks a significant development in UK politics. Analysts suggest that such movements can challenge established parties and force them to adapt their policies or risk losing support. The current political landscape in the UK is characterized by fragmentation, with voters increasingly seeking alternatives to traditional parties.

“Political analyst, Derek Jones, commented: ‘The emergence of new left-wing parties like this one represents a shift in voter sentiment and could potentially reshape the political discourse. It’s important for established parties to respond by addressing these concerns or risk losing support.’

The next few months will be crucial as Sultana and her team navigate the challenges ahead, including securing funding, building a cohesive party structure, and winning over potential voters in upcoming elections.