Corbyn‘s New Party Opens Membership amid Venue Uncertainty & Internal Discord
LONDON – Jeremy Corbyn’s newly formed political party, “Your Party,” has officially opened membership, despite recent internal disagreements and questions surrounding its inaugural conference venue. The announcement, made Wednesday, comes after a turbulent week for the fledgling organization, wiht corbyn acknowledging “fraught days” and a need to “steward the founding” rather than control the party’s direction.
The launch aims to establish a grassroots-driven choice on the left, offering a platform for members to “make the key decisions and elect a leadership through one member, one vote.” This move follows the departure of Corbyn and other MPs from the Labor party, seeking a more democratic and member-led structure. However, the party faces immediate challenges, including securing a conference location and navigating internal dynamics, as evidenced by the involvement of co-founder Zarah Sultana.
Corbyn addressed the recent issues, stating, “we haven’t covered ourselves in glory. but what is most critically important is this: We all agree about the plans for the conference and the road map to get to it.” He emphasized that the role of the Autonomous Alliance MPs, including himself, is “not to run the party, not to control it, not to direct it,” but to facilitate its establishment.
Sultana echoed this sentiment in a post on X (formerly Twitter),urging supporters to join and promising to remain “a fierce advocate for the grassroots – and will continue to fight hard for maximum member democracy.” She also assured those who previously registered with the earlier system that their data would be migrated.
Despite announcing the ACC Liverpool as the intended conference venue, Sky News reported Wednesday that Corbyn had yet to finalize a booking. An ACC spokesperson declined to comment, citing confidentiality agreements.
the launch of “Your Party” arrives as some observers suggest the needs of the left are greater than internal disagreements, as argued by Owen Jones in a recent Guardian commentary. The party’s success will depend on its ability to overcome these initial hurdles and build a strong,engaged membership base.
