UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – MP Zarah Sultana launches fundraising for a new leftwing party, sparking tensions with Corbyn allies over control of donations and supporter data.
As reported by The Guardian, independent MP Zarah Sultana has begun a fundraising campaign and launched a supporter sign-up page under her own name to form a new leftwing party.
What did Zarah Sultana’s fundraising drive mean for the new leftwing alliance?
Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana, who recently revealed plans to co-lead a new party with Jeremy Corbyn, is using the ActionNetwork platform to rally supporters. More than 64,000 actions have been recorded on the campaign’s sign-up page so far.
Her decision has raised tensions among the leftwing alliance, with some fearing that Sultana’s camp could gain too much control over donor funds and supporter data.
Jeremy Corbyn’s response to tensions in the new left party
Following Ms Sultana’s announcement of her co-leadership role, Jeremy Corbyn responded with a statement saying talks were still “ongoing.”
The absence of a broader organisational framework raised concerns among organisers. They worried that control of financial data and donations might remain with Ms Sultana.
How a rift over control nearly derailed the new leftwing party?
A few organisers called the announcement premature and described it as “childlike behaviour,” citing the lack of agreement beforehand. Following a week of silence and private manoeuvring, concerns reportedly eased through a deal to integrate assets into the new party’s joint framework.
Insiders say the issue is now resolved, with one source calling the result “obvious from the start.”
Despite the developments, Mr Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project, which has over 50,000 subscribers, will remain separate and will not back the broader alliance.
An ally dismissed the criticism as overblown and highlighted the strong backing Sultana has already attracted.
A new leftwing party began to take shape after a week of internal discord, with leaked messages highlighting clashes between supporters of Ms Sultana and Mr Corbyn.
Ongoing communication issues have been further complicated by overseas engagements – Mr Corbyn is attending Progressive International events in Colombia, while Ms Sultana is marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia.
Ms Sultana’s move to set up fundraising infrastructure caused unease, but organisers say it could serve a strategic purpose. Some argue that merging her lists with Mr Corbyn’s network could help build a powerful leftist political infrastructure.
Labour-left figures, independents, and grassroots organisers have been quietly coordinating for weeks under an initial agreement.
How will the new leftwing party overcome internal divisions?
More than 300,000 people are believed to have left Labour, many after Mr Corbyn lost the whip and other leftwing MPs were pushed to the margins, supporters say.
Under revised party rules, multiple grassroots organisers and councillors involved in the movement have faced expulsion or deselection.
The new party will soon publish its process document to help unify divided internal factions. One organiser said the goal is to “get the ship sailing again” by finding common ground.
Another organiser said,
“There are a lot of moving parts, and a lot of egos. The potential is enormous, but so is the risk of collapse. We’ve seen it before across the European left.”
Key facts about Zarah Sultana
- Sultana grew her majority from 401 votes in 2019 to over 10,000 in 2024.
- Her left-wing party campaign got 64,000+ supporter actions in just days.
- 18% of Brits may vote for a Corbyn-Sultana party – 36% of young people, 29% in London.
- Her 2024 campaign got £10K from the Fire Brigades Union, £3K each from the RMT and the CWU.