Launching a new political force is supposed to feel like a revolution. Yet Your Party’s much-anticipated first conference in Liverpool has become a masterclass in how ideological dreams can get tripped up by internal squabbles and leadership wrangling.
With Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana at the helm, expectations soared for a fresh alternative to Labour. Instead, the event exposed deep rifts that threaten to derail the movement before it even gets off the ground.
Why This Matters
- A divided left means a weaker challenge to the political status quo. Labour defectors and disillusioned progressives have flocked to Your Party, hoping for a credible response to the rise of Reform UK and dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer’s centrism. But if infighting continues, the left risks ceding ground to both the right and the centre.
- The leadership structure debate isn’t just academic. Corbyn’s push for a single figurehead leader versus Sultana’s call for collective, grassroots decision-making reflects a larger battle over how modern parties should function. This is a microcosm of broader questions facing progressive movements worldwide.
- Exclusion of Socialist Workers members exposes the left’s paradox. Calls for unity are undermined by gatekeeping and ‘witch-hunt’ accusations. If a movement can’t decide who belongs, how can it build a mass coalition?
What Most People Miss
- The drama isn’t just about personalities—it’s about how the left organizes itself in the 21st century. Collective leadership is trendy, but history is mixed. The German Greens tried it in the 1980s and ended up with chaos. Yet, single-leader models can breed cults of personality and disempower members.
- Factionalism has haunted British left parties for decades. From Militant Tendency in Labour to splits in the 2010s, unity always proves elusive. Your Party risks repeating history unless it can find a new playbook.
- The real losers are the rank-and-file members. Many came to Liverpool to debate policy—cost of living, immigration, and electoral strategy—only to watch leadership drama take centre stage.
Key Takeaways
- Momentum is fragile: After months of hype, Your Party’s inaugural conference has left many feeling deflated. One delegate’s quip—”My large glass of wine is turning into a bottle”—captures the mood perfectly.
- Structural decisions are existential: Whether to embrace one leader or a committee could make or break the party’s future. Sultana and Corbyn may reconcile in public, but their visions remain at odds.
- Gatekeeping could doom the project: Excluding members over past affiliations is a risky move for a party that claims to welcome all socialists.
Timeline of Key Events
- Summer 2025: Your Party’s launch attracts mass interest from Labour defectors and left activists.
- September-October: Public reconciliation between Corbyn and Sultana, but rumors of internal rows persist.
- November 29: First conference opens; Sultana boycotts Day One, divisions over leadership and membership eligibility erupt.
- November 30: Key votes on leadership structure and party name due; hopes for unity remain uncertain.
Expert Commentary
“New left parties often fail not for lack of vision, but because they can’t resolve internal conflicts quickly enough to be electorally relevant.” – Political analyst Dr. Priya Mehta
In short: The left’s appetite for purity and process can be its own worst enemy. If Your Party can’t get its act together, it risks becoming another footnote in the long history of progressive schisms.
The Bottom Line
Your Party’s debut was supposed to be a new dawn for the British left. Instead, it’s become a cautionary tale. Unless Corbyn, Sultana, and their allies can bridge the leadership and inclusion divide, the movement may never evolve beyond internal drama.
A divided opposition helps no one—except their political rivals.