Iqbal Mohamed, the independent MP for Dewsbury and Batley, has become the second MP in a week to leave Your Party, the left-wing group co-led by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. In a statement on X, Mohamed cited “many false allegations and smears” against him and others as the reason for his departure, without providing further details.
Mohamed’s resignation follows that of Adnan Hussain, another independent MP, who quit last Friday, citing “persistent infighting and a struggle for power” within the organisation. Mohamed said he wished the group well but had decided to remain as an independent after careful consideration.
The group has been plagued by splits and disagreements, largely between Sultana and Corbyn, along with four other independent MPs. Last week, Mohamed, Hussain, Corbyn, and two other MPs signed a statement accusing Sultana of unnecessarily delaying the transfer of £850,000 in donations, which infuriated Sultana. Allies of Sultana claimed the timing was intended to undermine her ahead of an appearance on BBC One’s Question Time and a potential leadership contest.
Your Party sources countered that Sultana was creating barriers by citing legal reasons for the delay. More funds have since been transferred, but tensions persist ahead of the inaugural Your Party conference in Liverpool, scheduled for the weekend after next. Corbyn-aligned figures have been annoyed by Sultana’s decision to hold a pre-conference rally on the Friday night, billing it as a Your Party event when it is organised solely by her.
The row over funds stems from the launch of a membership portal, when Your Party had no formal structure or bank account. Donations were directed to a new company, MOU Operations Ltd, with Sultana as its sole director, intended to be passed on when the party was ready. Your Party officials say the £850,000 is urgently needed to run the conference, while Sultana’s allies insist she is acting as fast as legally possible.
