The organizers of Your Party aimed to move past divisive conflicts during their recent founding conference. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged unity, emphasizing the importance of coming together in his address to over 2,000 attendees.
Despite rumors of disruptions, the event proceeded smoothly, with only one barely audible heckler. The party has faced internal struggles since its inception, including disputes over donations, a flawed membership launch, and the departure of two independent MPs, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed, which have benefited the Greens.
Corbyn, who returned to the same venue where he last spoke as Labour leader in 2018, cautioned against division, advocating for a united effort to advance the party’s goals of genuine socialism and social justice.
However, the conference encountered turmoil when former Labour MP Zarah Sultana, a co-founder of the party, criticized expulsions from the party just before the event. She emphasized the need to avoid a culture of witch-hunting and expressed disappointment over exclusions.
Following a temporary boycott, Sultana later addressed the conference, acknowledging shortcomings in the party’s establishment process. Despite criticisms from unnamed party figures, she celebrated the members’ decision to adopt a committee-led leadership structure until 2027, rejecting the single leadership model favored by Corbyn.
At the conference’s conclusion, Corbyn revealed the members’ selection of the party’s official name, “Your Party.” He stressed the importance of unity among delegates as they navigate a new leadership model, emphasizing the impact of their actions on people across the country.
The future success of the party as it embraces this unique leadership approach in contrast to traditional Westminster practices remains uncertain.
