Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of the Labour Party, is reportedly launching a new political party aimed at challenging “the rich and powerful” and advocating for wealth redistribution.
The Independent Member of Parliament for Islington North stated that the nascent party, which remains unnamed, will present an alternative to the “control freaks” within Labour and the “dangerously divisive” politics of Reform UK.
Corbyn, alongside Zarah Sultana, who recently transitioned to an independent after leaving Labour, jointly declared, “It’s time for a new kind of political party – one that belongs to you.”
In response to the announcement, a Labour Party source commented, “The electorate has twice given its verdict on a Jeremy Corbyn led party.”
In their statement outlining plans for the new party, Corbyn and Sultana pledged to combat injustices such as child poverty, large corporations profiting “from rising bills,” and government assertions that “there is no money for the poor, but billions for war.”
When asked if his party would simply be a revival of Labour under his leadership, Corbyn responded, “The Labour Party is a very top-down, highly centralised party that is full of control freaks who want to control whatever goes on within the party…”
“This is going to be community-led, community-based, grassroot-led, this is going to be very different, and you know what? It’s going to be fun.”
While “Your Party” is the name of the sign-up website, Sultana clarified on X that this is not the official name of the new party, countering early reports.
Corbyn dismissed suggestions that the new venture was launched haphazardly, telling reporters, “It’s not messy at all, it’s a totally coherent approach.”
Regarding the timeline for choosing a party name, he stated, “We’re going to decide when we’ve had all the responses, and so far the response rate has been massive.”
“They’ve been coming in at 500 a minute wanting to support and join the new party.”
He also affirmed that relations with Sultana were “all fine,” stating, “we’re working absolutely together on this,” despite her being in her Coventry constituency.
The new co-leaders represent distinct political generations, with Corbyn serving as an MP for nearly half a century and Sultana for only six years.
However, they share a common belief in the untapped energy on the left of British politics, which they aim to harness.
The pair are encouraging individuals to register and participate in building “a real, democratic alternative rooted in communities up and down the country.”
Their statement indicates that the inaugural conference, expected in the autumn, will determine the party’s policies.
However, their position on the political spectrum is clear: to the left of the Labour Party on matters of tax, nationalisation, and immigration, and significantly more critical of Israel.
Their stated ambition is to “take on the rich and powerful – and win.”
However, even a modest share of the vote in a general election could put Labour at risk of losing a number of seats, even if not directly to the new party.
Their first test may come sooner. The party now seems likely to be up and running in time for the local elections in May 2026, which include council elections in London and other cities which are likely to prove the most fertile territory for this party of anywhere.
Labour’s internal vulnerability to its left flank was shown most recently by the prime minister’s last minute U-turn on his welfare plans, eventually pushing through a gutted bill by just 75 votes, despite having a working majority of 165 MPs.
Rumors of a Corbyn-led party have been circulating for months, but Sultana appeared to have jumped the gun when she quit the Labour Party at the start of this month and announced she would be co-founding a new party with him.
Sultana was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party last year, along with six other MPs, when she voted against the government to back scrapping the two-child benefit cap.
Although four of those Labour MPs returned to the party, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell did not, although he has so far ruled out joining his former leadership partner.
The pair stood down following the 2019 general election defeat, and Corbyn was later suspended from the party he joined as a teenager by his successor Sir Keir Starmer.
However, Corbyn successfully stood as an independent candidate in the 2024 general election, and has since been coordinating a small group of four pro-Gaza independent MPs, who are expected to form the core of any new party.
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