Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed ongoing discussions to form a new left-wing political party, marking a potential seismic shift in Britain’s political landscape. His confirmation came just hours after Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana publicly announced she was leaving the Labour Party to co-lead the initiative with Corbyn.
Sultana, who lost the Labour whip in 2023 after defying party lines over the two-child benefits cap, declared that she was stepping away from Labour to “co-lead the founding of a new party.” Her departure took many by surprise, even within Labour’s left faction, with some insiders describing the move as premature and possibly counterproductive.
While Corbyn has long hinted at the creation of a formal platform for left-wing and pro-Palestinian activism, this is the clearest indication yet that such a movement could soon materialize into a fully structured political party. Still, the Islington North MP has made it clear he is hesitant to assume the role of party leader. He prefers a collective leadership model, wary that establishing a hierarchy too soon might fracture the coalition of like-minded MPs and activists he’s been quietly rallying for months.
In a statement posted on X, Corbyn praised Sultana’s “principled decision to leave the Labour party” and welcomed her involvement in what he described as “a real alternative.”
“The democratic foundations of a new kind of political party will soon take shape. Discussions are ongoing – and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve.”
Jeremy Corbyn
He continued, “Together we can create something that is desperately missing from our broken political system: hope.”
Mixed Response As MPs Weigh In
Not everyone on the Labour left is ready to follow Sultana and Corbyn’s lead. Senior Labour figures Diane Abbott and John McDonnell have said they will not be joining any new party effort. Meanwhile, a Labour source responded to the news by stating, “The electorate has twice given its verdict on a Jeremy Corbyn-led party.”
Sultana’s exit officially brings the Independent Alliance’s membership in Parliament to six, giving it a larger Commons presence than the Greens and Plaid Cymru. The Alliance is composed of non-party-aligned MPs, many of whom were previously Labour.
According to polling conducted by More in Common, a new leftwing political bloc focused on Gaza, economic inequality, and the cost-of-living crisis could draw around 10% of Labour’s 2019 vote share in urban constituencies. While some overlap with the Green Party is expected, insiders believe each group appeals to different voter bases in different regions.
The potential splintering of the left has drawn interest from rival parties. At the Spectator summer party on Thursday, news of Sultana’s defection prompted cheers from attendees affiliated with Reform UK. One attendee quipped, “They’ll take 10% off Labour,” suggesting the left’s fragmentation may benefit parties on the right.
In response, the Green Party has ramped up social media campaigns encouraging disaffected voters to join their ranks and participate in upcoming leadership elections.
Despite speculation, insiders describe the mood within the Corbyn-aligned group as more united than public perception suggests. A meeting held just hours before Sultana’s public statement was characterized as constructive. Corbyn’s 18-hour silence following her announcement is reportedly not indicative of any rift between them.
Sultana took to X on Thursday evening, declaring, “Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper.” She went on to argue that the current “two-party system offers nothing but managed decline and broken promises.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed Sultana’s critique in broadcast interviews, saying the former Labour MP had consistently taken “a very different view to most people in the government.” She declined to comment on whether the new party would present a real challenge to Labour in future elections.
Reactions within Labour have been mixed. While some MPs expressed regret at Sultana’s departure, others welcomed it. For now, eyes remain on Corbyn and Sultana as they attempt to reshape Britain’s political conversation from the left.
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