UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana skipped Your Party’s opening conference in Liverpool, just hours after Jeremy Corbyn called for party unity.
As reported by The Independent, Zarah Sultana refused to attend the first day of the Your Party conference following co-leader Jeremy Corbyn’s claims of unity.
What did Zarah Sultana say about the “witch hunt” at Your party conference?
Zarah Sultana said she will stay out of the main conference centre on Saturday, citing a “witch hunt.”
Reports indicate that one of Ms Sultana’s supporters, Kingston councillor James Giles, was denied entry, while other members faced expulsion on Friday over alleged Socialist Workers Party membership.
A spokeswoman for Ms Sultana said,
“Zarah met members outside the conference and condemned the recent expulsions.”
She added,
“This witch hunt is indefensible. We must build a party that welcomes all socialists. She will not be entering the conference hall today.”
Ms Sultana previously criticised the party as a “sexist boys’ club” after supporters were invited to officially join and contribute financially.
Mr Corbyn rejected the email as an “unauthorised” move and posted a statement on social media, warning members not to sign up.
Ms Sultana said,
“I’ve publicly supported a co-leadership model. The fact it hasn’t been given to members as an option to vote on is regrettable, and the fact that has been decided by a faceless, nameless bureaucrat is quite concerning.”
The ex-Labour MP added,
“I don’t think movements should be led by sole personalities. I think you have to represent the broad mass movement,” she said. “That allows responsibility to be shared and more people’s ideas to be listened to. It strengthens the movement. With that, comes a structure which has a parliamentary convener. They are also elected by the membership.
She continued,
“Should the members choose sole leadership, I would consider throwing my hat in the ring. I will then respect whatever the members decide and completely ride in behind that.”
What did Jeremy Corbyn say about unity and Zarah Sultana at the Your Party conference?
The statement came just hours after Jeremy Corbyn told members that infighting in Your Party was over, saying,
“Last night here in Liverpool, we had a number of events on and Zarah (Sultana) spoke at a great rally, and I very happily and proudly sent a message to that rally – and I was grateful that it was read out to that rally – of support and solidarity.”
He said,
“I was at a poetry and music event at the Black E, and Zarah sent a message to that. 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. So that’s the basis on which we launch the party now.”
The renewed calls for unity came shortly after Mr Corbyn declined to call Ms Sultana a friend in an interview, saying they are “colleagues in parliament who communicate regularly.”
Mr Corbyn used the party’s supposed newfound unity to highlight flaws in the Labour Party bureaucracy and structure.
He said,
“I’ve had enough of top-down parties. I spent a lifetime in the Labour Party, mostly fighting Labour Party bureaucracy. I don’t want to repeat that in Your Party. I don’t want to repeat that experience.”
Mr Corbyn called on the party members to “campaign forevermore” in pursuit of “real socialism.”
He concluded his speech saying,
“We are here in Liverpool with a huge responsibility on our shoulders to get this thing under way this weekend, to get the branches going, to get the campaigns going and contest the elections in the future. This is our opportunity and our time.”
The former Labour leader added,
“We are going to seize it with both hands, build that party, build that society, and campaign forevermore for real socialism and real social justice.”
Why Iqbal Mohamed and Adnan Hussain left Your Party?
Two founding MPs have left Your Party, with Iqbal Mohamed saying he will continue serving Dewsbury and Batley as an independent MP.
Earlier this month, MP Adnan Hussain said he was withdrawing from Your Party’s steering process, pointing to factionalism and “veiled prejudice” against Muslims.
Jeremy Corbyn continued to affirm that membership in Your Party required members not to be affiliated with other registered parties.
He added,
“The Socialist Workers party is registered with the Electoral Commission, therefore it is another party. I think to call it a purge is a bit of exaggeration quite honestly.”
A Your Party spokesperson said,
“These claims are false. Members of another national political party signed up to Your Party in contravention of clearly stated membership rules – and these rules were enforced.”
How many members have signed up for Your Party?
Your Party had over 300,000 sign-ups to its mailing list by late July and surpassed 800,000 sign-ups (not all paid members) by late August, including notable numbers in Wales and Scotland.
By early November 2025, the official paid membership of Your Party was reported at around 50,000. Some mailing list sign-ups are expected to convert to full membership, though numbers remain below early estimates of 100,000 to 200,000.
The party’s membership size at this stage places it close behind the Liberal Democrats in the UK, who have around 60,000 members.
