The launch of a new left-wing insurgent party was engulfed in chaos today just hours after being announced. Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, quit Labour last night and announced she was setting up a new movement with Jeremy Corbyn.
But it has been claimed that the former Labour leader was caught by surprise. He has been left “furious and bewildered” that Ms Sultana went ahead without consultation, according to Politico’s Playbook newsletter. There also appears to be no decision on what to call the new left-wing party with potential options including “Real Change” and “Peace and Justice Project”.
Some on the left were also said to be nonplussed by Ms Sultana, who lost the Labour whip last year, claiming she would “co-lead” the new party with veteran Mr Corbyn.
It comes after the ex-Labour leader strongly hinted at plans to launch a new party in an interview on ITV’s Peston on Wednesday.
The Islington North MP said: “There’s a lot of people all around the country in different independent groups. Look in Birmingham, look in Liverpool, look in Southport and so on.”There is a thirst for an alternative view to be put. I’m working with all of those people. That grouping will come together.”
In a statement posted on X last night, Ms Sultana said she was resigning from Sir Keir Starmer’s party and would “co-lead the founding of a new party” with Mr Corbyn, who was kicked out of Labour in an antisemitism row.
She said that the project would also involve “other independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country”.
She said that “Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper” and the “two-party system offers nothing but managed decline and broken promises”.
She added: “A year ago, I was suspended by the Labour Party for voting to abolish the two-child benefit cap and lift 400,000 children out of poverty.
“I’d do it again. I voted against scrapping winter fuel payments for pensioners. I’d do it again. Now, the Government wants to make disabled people suffer; they just can’t decide how much.”
Ms Sultana also accused the Government of being an “active participant in genocide” in Gaza in her statement.
Referring to the next general election, Ms Sultana said: “In 2029 the choice will be stark: socialism or barbarism”.