Zarah Sultana, the MP who launched a new party alongside former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, has claimed she is a victim of a “sexist boys club” in a brutal swipe at Mr Corbyn. She claimed she had been “treated appallingly” after she launched a website urging people to pay £55 to become members. Mr Corbyn and four male independent MPs have issued a statement claiming the website was unauthorised, and urging people not to join.
Left-wing firebrand Ms Sultana hit back, claiming: “After being sidelined by the MPs named in today’s statement and effectively frozen out of the official accounts, I took the step of launching a membership portal so that supporters could continue to engage and organise.” She added: “Unfortunately I have been subjected to what can only be described as a sexist boys’ club. I have been treated appallingly and excluded completely.”
And Ms Sultana, a former Labour MP, also demanded Mr Corbyn meet with her to iron out their differences.
Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana were due to be co-leaders of the party, currently known as “Your Party” until a permanent name is chosen. However there have been repeated reports that the pair are feuding over who should be in charge.
Mr Corbyn, the former Labour leader, announced the launch the party in July and called on potential supporters to sign up to email mailing list. Today, those who signed up received an email which said: “Today is the day. Our membership portal is now open.”
The email urged those receiving it to “sign up to join Your Party today”, and included a link to a website. The website includes a form for people to enter bank card details and pay £55 for standard membership or £25 for “Concessionary Membership”.
However a statement was then issued by Mr Corbyn urging people not to provide their bank details. Mr Corbyn apparently said: “This morning, an unauthorised email was sent to all yourparty.uk supporters with details of a supposed membership portal hosted in a new domain name.
“Legal advice is being taken. That email should be ignored by all supporters.
“If any direct debits have been set up, they should be immediately cancelled.”
This statement was signed by Mr Corbyn and four independent MPs who have said they will join the new party, according to the X message.
But it was not signed by former Labour MP Zarah Sultana, now an independent, who has said she will be co-leader of the party alongside Mr Corbyn.
And a message was issued on her own X account, saying: “We said this was your party — and we meant it. We have just launched our membership. Join us and be a part of history.” Her message included a link to the website where people can enter their bank details.
She has provided updates throughout the day, and reported: “We’ve hit 20,000 members!
“Right-wing bad faith actors are desperate to claim this link is fake.
“It isn’t. It’s safe and secure!”
Signing up 20,000 members would mean at least £500,000 has been paid, if every member joined at the concessionary £25 rate.
In the latest statement, Ms Sultana said: “I am calling on Jeremy to meet me and agree to make public all agreed structures, processess and decision-making protocols.” In a dig at Mr Corbyn, she said: “This party is more important than any one person.”
A Labour source said: “Pahahahahah”
