Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana Launch "Your Party," Sparking New Era in UK Political Landscape

Historic Move as Former Labour Leaders Forge a New Path

LONDON, July 24, 2025 – In a development sending seismic waves through the United Kingdom’s political sphere, ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Member of Parliament Zarah Sultana have together announced the formation of a new left-wing political movement tentatively named Your Party. The launch, which promises to champion social justice, economic reform, and an independent Palestine, captured extraordinary interest, with over 80,000 people reportedly signing up within hours.

This bold initiative signals not only a realignment among the UK's progressive voters but also introduces a direct challenge to the Labour Party’s historic dominance among left-leaning communities.

Foundations of a New Political Force

Corbyn and Sultana’s official statement, posted jointly on X (formerly Twitter), stressed the urgent need to tackle what they call a “rigged system” fueling wealth inequality and social division. “Ordinary people create the wealth – and it is ordinary people who have the power to put it back where it belongs. It's time for a new kind of political party. One that is rooted in our communities, trade unions, and social movements. One that belongs to you,” the letter declared.

Key policy priorities outlined by the new party’s founders include:

• Redistribution of wealth and resources: Advocating for tax policies targeting the richest individuals and large corporations.
• Public ownership: Calling for the re-nationalisation of critical infrastructure such as energy, water, rail, and mail utilities.
• Support for Palestine: Putting a “free and independent Palestine” at the core of its foreign policy platform while calling for a full arms embargo on Israel.
• Community-led politics: Emphasising grassroots involvement, Your Party’s platform will be determined at an inaugural conference where members will vote on its name, leadership structure, and policy direction.

Context: Corbyn, Sultana, and Labour’s Shifting Identity

Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader from 2015 to 2020, was known for steering the party toward unapologetically left-wing policies. Under his leadership, Labour expanded its base among young voters, trade unionists, and minority communities, but also provoked internal divisions, particularly on issues relating to antisemitism and foreign policy.

Zarah Sultana, who represented Coventry South, emerged as an increasingly prominent voice on the party’s left and resigned her Labour membership to co-found this new party.

In recent years, Labour under Keir Starmer has shifted toward the political center, seeking to recapture middle-ground voters but risking disenchantment among its traditional, more left-leaning core. Analysts have noted how this transition opened space for a new progressive formation—a vacuum Corbyn and Sultana now aim to fill.

Economic Impact and Policy Vision

The heart of Your Party’s manifesto is the redistribution of wealth, positioning itself decisively against the economic status quo. Corbyn and Sultana blame “an economic system that protects the interests of corporations and billionaires” for persistent poverty and social hardship. They propose:

• Steep progressive taxation on the ultra-wealthy.
• Investment in universal public services: Healthcare free from privatisation, expanded social housing, and increased funding for education.
• Transition to green energy and sustainable infrastructure: Investing in climate resilience and job creation.

While concrete figures and policy details will be determined democratically at the party’s upcoming conference, the platform’s contours recall Corbyn’s 2017 and 2019 Labour manifestos, with added emphasis on member participation and democratic decision-making.

Initial Reactions: Public Surge, Criticism, and Rival Responses

Public response has been swift and enthusiastic, with tens of thousands flocking to the new party’s website within hours of the launch. Supporters on social media have embraced Your Party as a long-awaited home for disillusioned left-wingers, Greens, trade unionists, and anti-war activists.

Rival parties have responded cautiously. Green Party leadership candidate Zack Polanski welcomed the news but noted the Greens “already stand for social, racial, and economic justice,” subtly highlighting electoral competition among the UK’s left-of-center options.

Labour officials have yet to make an official statement at time of reporting, though some analysts warn the new party could split the left vote, potentially weakening Labour’s prospects in tight contests and providing an advantage to Conservative or Liberal Democrat candidates.

Critics, including some in the media and rival parties, have also resurfaced allegations about Corbyn and Sultana’s past statements on Israel and antisemitism, adding a complicated dimension to their public image and prospects.

Regional Comparisons: Learning from the Left in Europe

The UK’s progressive politics have historically oscillated between large-tent parties and fragmented left alliances. The rise of Your Party recalls several European left realignments over the past decade:

• France: Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s France Insoumise emerged from disaffection with the Socialist Party, going on to become a pivotal force in national politics.
• Germany: Die Linke (The Left), amalgamating former East German communists and West German leftists, provided an alternative for voters dissatisfied with the Social Democrats’ centrism.
• Spain: Podemos was born from anti-austerity movements and quickly shaped the national agenda, at times cooperating with the Socialist government.

Each case saw new parties gain traction by capturing grassroots momentum but struggling to convert enthusiastic support into broad-based electoral wins. The lessons for Your Party are clear: sustained relevance will depend on transcending protest politics to build a professional apparatus, develop a coherent policy platform, and achieve unity despite ideological diversity.

Historical Context: Britain’s Ever-Shifting Political Left

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the United Kingdom has periodically witnessed the rise of new political alternatives as major parties drift from their historic roots:

• In the 1980s, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was founded by Labour moderates, later merging with the Liberals to form today’s Liberal Democrats.
• The Green Party, for decades on the UK’s political margins, has recently found newfound strength amid growing climate consciousness.
• Several regional parties, particularly in Scotland and Wales, have also drawn support from voters dissatisfied with Westminster’s major parties.

Corbyn and Sultana’s Your Party fits squarely in this tradition, seeking to revive grassroots engagement mobilised by movements such as Momentum—a campaign launched in support of Corbyn’s original Labour leadership—which once energised hundreds of thousands of volunteers.

What Comes Next: Challenges and Prospects

• Organisational hurdles: The transition from a popular movement to an effective political party is steep. Building local branches, fielding parliamentary candidates, and developing a credible shadow cabinet will take significant resources and strategic acumen.
• Electoral Impact: Early excitement could translate into strong by-election showings, but the UK’s first-past-the-post system makes it historically difficult for new parties to win substantial numbers of seats without concentrated local bases.
• Engagement with other left parties: Your Party’s relationship with the Greens, Scottish Nationalists, and regional socialists will shape prospects for cooperation—and competition—on both the local and national stage.

Public Mood and the Road Ahead

The rapid uptake of Your Party’s message—reflected in huge online engagement and statements of support from grassroots organisers—demonstrates a persistent appetite for an alternative voice on the UK left.

With the Labour Party moving steadily to the center and persistent economic challenges after years of austerity, Brexit, and cost-of-living crises, spaces for new political narratives have opened up. The strong emphasis on direct democracy and public involvement in shaping policy may help address critiques of political elitism and disconnection.

Your Party’s inaugural conference, set to occur within months, will be critical in translating this enthusiasm into concrete action: finalising the party’s name, articulating a detailed manifesto, and selecting its leadership.

Only time will tell if Your Party can fulfill its founders’ promise of “real change”—or whether the UK’s left-wing vote will become more divided, affecting the prospects for social democratic policies nationwide.