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Jeremy Corbyn confirms launch of new political party Jeremy Corbyn confirms launch of new political party
(about 2 hours later)
Former Labour Party leader and Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he is launching a new political party. Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is launching a new political party, to campaign for a "mass redistribution of wealth".
Corbyn has issued a joint statement with Zarah Sultana, who recently quit Labour to become an independent, saying: "It's time for a new kind of political party - one that belongs to you". The independent MP for Islington North said the party - which does not yet have a name - would offer an alternative to the "control freaks" of Labour and the "dangerously divisive" politics of Reform.
The pair are encouraging people to sign up to get involved in building "a real, democratic alternative rooted in communities up and down the country". Earlier, Corbyn issued a joint statement with Zarah Sultana, who recently quit Labour to become an independent, saying: "It's time for a new kind of political party - one that belongs to you".
Labelling the current political system as "rigged", they are inviting supporters to an inaugural conference "to be part of the founding process".Labelling the current political system as "rigged", they are inviting supporters to an inaugural conference "to be part of the founding process".
Child poverty, giant corporations making "a fortune from rising bills" and the government saying "there is no money for the poor, but billions for war" are among the issues highlighted in the letter.Child poverty, giant corporations making "a fortune from rising bills" and the government saying "there is no money for the poor, but billions for war" are among the issues highlighted in the letter.
"We cannot accept these injustices and neither should you," it adds."We cannot accept these injustices and neither should you," it adds.
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana come from very different political generations - Corbyn's been an MP for almost half a century, Sultana for only six years. Asked whether his party would be a re-hash of Labour under his leadership, Corbyn said: "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."
Your Party is the name of the sign-up website, but Sultana posted on X to correct some early reports suggesting this was the new party's name, saying: "It's not called Your Party!"
Corbyn rejected suggestions the new venture had been haphazardly launched, Corbyn said: "It's not messy at all, it's a totally coherent approach."
He told reporters the process was "open" and there should be an "inclusive" name decided on by the end of the year.
Asked what the new name would be, he said: "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 insisted relations with Sultana were "all fine", saying "we're working absolutely together on this" although his co-leader was in her Coventry constituency.
Watch: Jeremy Corbyn asks for naming ideas for new party
The new co-leaders come from very different political generations - Corbyn's been an MP for almost half a century, Sultana for only six years.
But they share a conviction that there is an energy on the left of British politics on which they can capitalise.But they share a conviction that there is an energy on the left of British politics on which they can capitalise.
In their statement they say that the inaugural conference will determine the party's policies. The pair are encouraging people to sign up to get involved in building "a real, democratic alternative rooted in communities up and down the country".
In their statement they say that the inaugural conference, expected in autumn, will determine the party's policies.
But their placement on the political spectrum is clear: to the left of the Labour Party on tax, nationalisation and immigration; and significantly more anti-Israel.But their placement on the political spectrum is clear: to the left of the Labour Party on tax, nationalisation and immigration; and significantly more anti-Israel.
Their declared ambition is to "take on the rich and powerful – and win".Their declared ambition is to "take on the rich and powerful – and win".
But at a general election even a fairly modest share of the vote could leave Labour at risk of losing quite a few seats, even if not directly to the new party.But at a general election even a fairly modest share of the vote could leave Labour at risk of losing quite a few 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.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.
Although the website for people to sign up is called Your Party, this appears to only be a temporary name, as the site also says "Your Party - and the new party that develops from it". Labour's internal vulnerability to its left flank was shown most recently by the prime minister's last minute U-turn on its welfare plans, eventually pushing through a gutted bill by just 75 votes, despite having a working majority of 165 MPs.
Sultana tweeted: "It's not called Your Party!" to a media report of the launch on X.
Your Party is also not currently registered with the Electoral Commission, which is required in order to field candidates for elections.
The letter gives a flavour of the policy direction supporters can expect, talking about a "mass redistribution of wealth and power. That means taxing the very richest in our society".
Sultana was one of a dozen MPs on Labour's left flank who have been calling for a wealth tax, including before the Chancellor's first budget.
The letter also talks of nationalising energy, water, rail and mail, keeping the NHS "free from privatisation", and "investing in a massive council house-building programme".
The new party appears to support moves to tackle climate change, protecting the right to protest, and an end to arms sales to Israel.
Rumours of a Corbyn-led party have been rumbling 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.Rumours of a Corbyn-led party have been rumbling 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.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 and Apsana Begum have not. 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.
That led to speculation about whether McDonnell could re-join his former leadership partner, although this has been ruled out to date. 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.
Corbyn was suspended from the Labour Party in 2020 but successfully stood as an independent candidate in the 2024 general election. 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.
He has since been coordinating a small group of four independent MPs, who share similar views on the Israel-Gaza conflict, and are expected to form the core of any new party.
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