A new progressive political party founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana faced turmoil today regarding the launch of a membership platform. In a notable division within the organization, originally established under the temporary name ‘Your Party’ earlier this year, co-founder Ms. Sultana alleged mistreatment, citing a “sexist boys’ club” environment and exclusion from official accounts.
Former Labour leader Mr. Corbyn advised ‘Your Party’ supporters to cancel direct debits, citing an unauthorized email sent out on Thursday, which falsely announced the opening of a membership portal. The email prompted recipients to join as regular members for £55 annually or £5 monthly, with a discounted rate of £25 per year.
Previously, ex-Labour MP Ms. Sultana encouraged people on social media to sign up via a provided portal link, claiming that over 20,000 individuals had already enrolled. She also dismissed claims by “right-wing bad faith actors” attempting to discredit the legitimacy of the link.
However, Mr. Corbyn issued an urgent message cautioning against the fraudulent email, emphasizing the need to disregard it and cancel any direct debits that may have been set up. He reassured supporters that soon they could officially become members at yourparty.uk and contribute to shaping the party’s future.
Independent MPs in the Commons, including Shockat Adam, Iqbal Mohamed, Adnan Hussain, and Ayoub Khan, endorsed a letter regarding the party’s direction, but notably absent was Ms. Sultana’s endorsement. Following this, she declared being sidelined from official accounts and proceeded with launching the membership portal to ensure grassroots participation, highlighting the necessity for a democratic and socialist party.
Ms. Sultana urged Jeremy Corbyn to engage in discussions with her to establish transparent structures and decision-making processes publicly. She stressed the importance of upholding the party’s values and ensuring a fair and inclusive environment for all members.
In response, a Labour source quipped about the ongoing discord between Corbyn and Sultana, suggesting internal power struggles within the party even before its full establishment.