Jeremy Corbyn's new political project has descended into open warfare after a chaotic inaugural conference that saw the party retain its original name while blocking both co-founders from immediate leadership ambitions.
A Name That Sticks Despite Division
After months of internal conflict and legal threats between its founders, the hard-Left movement emerged from its Liverpool conference with an unexpected outcome: the party will remain called 'Your Party'. Closing the conference, Mr Corbyn announced the results of a members' vote, telling supporters: 'Your Party is the name of your party.'
The decision came despite only 37 per cent of members voting to stick with the original name. Members had chosen between four options: Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance and For The Many, revealing significant division within the fledgling movement.
Leadership Dreams Dashed Until 2027
In a dramatic blow to Mr Corbyn's ambitions, members voted by 52 per cent to 48 per cent for a 'collective leadership' model that prevents both him and co-founder Zarah Sultana from standing for leader until 2027. This represents a particular setback for Mr Corbyn, who had publicly backed a 'sole leader' model and indicated he would stand to lead the party.
The decision comes amid extraordinary public feuding between the party's leading figures. Ms Sultana boycotted the opening day of the conference over claims of a 'witch hunt' against her allies by what she described as 'nameless, faceless bureaucrats'.
Public Apologies and Radical Rhetoric
In a headline speech that acknowledged the party's troubled beginnings, Ms Sultana confessed that the founding had been 'messy' with 'hiccups', adding: 'Some of that is my fault, and for that, I am sorry.'
However, the Birmingham MP quickly turned to controversial rhetoric, demanding that Your Party become an 'anti-Zionist' movement and leading a chant of 'from the river to the sea' - a phrase regarded by many as an anti-Semitic call for Israel's elimination. She also labelled Prince Andrew a 'parasite' and called for the abolition of the monarchy.
Despite being blocked from the leadership until 2027, Ms Sultana confirmed she would run for a position within the committee of 'ordinary members' that will lead the party, suggesting ongoing tension between her and Mr Corbyn when internal elections open in January.
Membership Reality Check and Further Controversy
The conference revealed startling truths about the party's actual support levels. Voting data showed that Your Party's entire 'verified' membership stands at just 21,035, with fewer than 9,000 people participating in the crucial leadership model vote. This figure falls dramatically short of the 50,000 members claimed by Mr Corbyn and represents a tiny fraction of the 800,000 people who initially registered interest.
In another controversial move likely to prompt further chaos, members voted to allow dual membership of Your Party and other Trotskyist groups, following a row over expulsions of Socialist Worker's Party members from the Liverpool conference.
The party's foundation has been dogged by toxic infighting, including disputes over an £800,000 pot of members' fees that prompted threats of legal action between Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana.
A party spokesman attempted to put a positive spin on the proceedings, stating: 'It was Your Party all along. Our permanent name reflects what our party and our conference is all about: a radically democratic movement seeking a radical transfer of wealth and power from the few to the many.'
As the new party struggles to find its footing amid very public divisions, the coming months will test whether this 'radically democratic' experiment can survive its own internal contradictions.
