Liverpool, UK – November 29, 2025 – Veteran British socialist Jeremy Corbyn’s newly formed political party, Your Party, is facing a fresh crisis just as it kicks off its inaugural conference. Cofounder Zarah Sultana, a former Labour MP, announced she would skip the first day of the event in protest against the expulsion of party members and supporters linked to the far-left Socialist Workers Party (SWP).

The opening day in Liverpool was intended to signal unity and a fresh start for the party, which seeks to position itself as a viable left-wing alternative to the governing Labour Party.

Corbyn Calls for Unity Amid Growing Divisions

Speaking at the conference, 76-year-old Corbyn emphasized the need for solidarity among members:

“As a party, we’ve got to come together and be united because division and disunity will not serve the interests of the people that we want to represent.”

Despite his call for cohesion, tensions quickly surfaced when Sultana, 32, confirmed her absence from the main conference hall. She cited the exclusion of one of her supporters and the expulsion of several others over alleged membership in the SWP as her reason for protest.

“I’m disappointed to see on the morning of our founding conference, people who have travelled from all over the country, spent a lot of money on their train fare, on hotels, on being able to participate in this conference, being told that they have been expelled,” Sultana told the Press Association.
“That is a culture reminiscent of the Labour Party, where witch hunts on the eve of conference left members treated with contempt.”

Expulsions and Internal Disputes

A spokesperson for Your Party defended the expulsions, arguing:

“Members of another national political party signed up to Your Party in contravention of clearly stated membership rules – and these rules were enforced.”

The expulsions come amid ongoing disputes between Corbyn and Sultana since the party’s announcement in July 2025. Internal divisions have also caused two of the four independent MPs who initially joined the party to quit. Disagreements have spanned the membership launch, leadership structure, and potential legal disputes.

Conference Agenda and Future of the Party

The conference, which runs over several days, is set to tackle key organizational decisions, including:

• Choosing an official party name
• Deciding whether the party will have a single leader or adopt a collective leadership structure
• Establishing policies to manage internal disputes and membership rules

Observers say the party’s early struggles underscore the challenges of forming a new left-wing political force in the UK, especially as Labour moves rightward on key issues and British politics becomes increasingly fractured.

Implications for UK Politics

Your Party was launched to provide a fresh alternative for left-leaning voters dissatisfied with Labour’s recent direction. However, the conference controversy highlights the difficulties of establishing a cohesive political platform, managing internal disagreements, and projecting stability to potential supporters.

Political analysts warn that unresolved disputes could undermine the party’s electoral prospects in upcoming national contests and delay its ambition to emerge as a credible challenger on the left.