On November 29, 2025, the much-anticipated inaugural conference of Your Party—a new left-wing political movement co-founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana—descended into chaos at Liverpool’s ACC Centre, exposing deep internal rifts and raising questions about the party’s future direction. What was meant to be a moment of unity and fresh momentum for Britain’s progressive left quickly became a showcase for factional disputes, dramatic walkouts, and public accusations of purges and toxic culture.
When the idea for Your Party was first floated in the summer of 2025, it generated a tidal wave of enthusiasm. According to The Guardian, “hundreds of thousands of people expressed an interest in joining,” many of them disillusioned former Labour members seeking a new political home as the government’s policies and the rise of Reform UK left them cold. The party’s launch, spearheaded by Corbyn—the former Labour leader—and Sultana, MP for Coventry South, was seen as a potential game-changer in British politics, with hopes high that the inaugural conference would mark a new beginning after months of internal wrangling.
Instead, the event laid bare just how fragile this alliance had become. On the morning of the conference, Jeremy Corbyn took to the stage and called for “unity and collaboration,” telling delegates, “We’re building a party that stands for that interest of the majority of people, that want to see real change. A social alliance of people in all communities coming together to bring about something different, a culture of unity and collaboration.” He urged the crowd to “listen to each other, learn from each other, and be respectful to each other.”
But as Corbyn spoke, Sultana was notably absent—sipping hot chocolate in a café a mile from the venue, as reported by The Guardian. Her absence was not a simple scheduling mishap; it was a deliberate boycott. The reason? The expulsion of several of her allies from the conference, including former Socialist Workers Party (SWP) members, which she and her supporters described as a “witch-hunt.”
“The expulsions we’ve seen this morning are disappointing. They remind us of the Labour Party, with witch-hunts on the eve of conference,” Sultana told reporters outside the venue, according to The Telegraph. “We want a party that respects members, respects the Left, and isn’t expelling people, and we are here to fight for that.” Asked if the expulsions were a purge of her supporters, she replied, “It is something that is deeply concerning. We are not here to expel people, we are not here to build a culture of witch-hunts where people’s social media are stalked and people are putting resources into expelling people.”
The expulsions, according to party leadership, were due to violations of rules forbidding dual membership with other national parties. A Your Party spokesperson stated, “These claims are false. Members of another national political party signed up to Your Party in contravention of clearly stated membership rules – and these rules were enforced. We’re focused on hosting a democratic founding conference with thousands of members coming together to debate and decide the big issues. This is politics outside the Westminster mould – from the ground up, not the top down.”
Among those denied entry was Kingston councillor James Giles, a Sultana supporter, who was informed less than two hours before the conference began that he would not be allowed in due to what was described as a “private matter related to an ongoing investigation by the ICO.” Giles, however, told The Telegraph he was unaware of any such investigation. Lewis Nielson, national secretary of the SWP, was also expelled, and Samira Ali, a former member, was escorted out after being banned twice. These moves prompted Sultana’s boycott and a public “meet and greet” outside the venue in solidarity with those excluded.
The internal conflict extended beyond membership rules. Sultana and Corbyn have clashed over the party’s leadership structure and financial management. Corbyn favors a traditional single-leader model and suggested he’d be willing to run if members voted for it, while Sultana has pushed for a collective leadership approach, arguing that key decisions should be made by lay members rather than MPs or councillors. “I do not think parties should be run by ‘sole personalities,’” Sultana told The Guardian. She also indicated she’d consider standing against Corbyn in a leadership contest, underscoring just how far apart the co-founders have drifted.
Financial disputes have further soured relations. In September, Sultana launched a membership drive without Corbyn’s approval and was accused of running a “sexist boys’ club.” She initially held back £800,000 raised via an unauthorized portal, later offering to transfer £600,000 and retain the rest for potential legal or administrative expenses. Party organizers rejected this, and as of the conference, Sultana had transferred £400,000, with more to come “as soon as possible,” according to her spokesperson.
The chaos has taken a toll on party morale and prospects. Two members, Iqbal Mohamed and Adnan Hussain, resigned in November citing a “toxic” culture and disagreements over the party’s direction. Mohamed, MP for Dewsbury and Batley, left after being rebuked by Sultana for gender-critical social media posts. Hussain, MP for Blackburn, described the party’s culture as “toxic.”
Security was heightened at the conference, with organizers hiring extra staff in response to possible disruptions from communist and socialist groups. The event faced several interruptions, including heckling during debates and a Friday evening rally disrupted by members of the Revolutionary Communist Group, who were refused entry and shouted into the room.
Despite the spectacle, many delegates were left frustrated that Saturday’s proceedings devolved into factionalism rather than substantive debate on issues like the cost of living crisis and immigration. As one despondent attendee told The Guardian, “My large glass of wine is turning into a bottle.”
Looking ahead, Your Party faces crucial decisions on its permanent name, leadership structure, and whether to field its own candidates or back socialist independents in upcoming elections. Sultana plans to attend Sunday’s session and deliver a speech, offering a glimmer of hope for those who still believe unity is possible. But after a weekend marked by public feuding, expulsions, and accusations of sabotage, the road ahead for Britain’s newest left-wing party looks anything but smooth.
In the end, the inaugural conference of Your Party reflected both the promise and perils of building a new political force from the ground up. The energy and idealism that brought thousands to Liverpool remain, but so do the divisions that threaten to unravel the project before it truly begins.
