After months of public indecision and internal disputes, the newly formed Your Party has finally solidified its identity at its inaugural conference in Liverpool, making crucial decisions on its name and leadership structure.
A Name is Chosen
Co-founder Jeremy Corbyn announced the result of a member ballot, revealing that the party would formally retain the name Your Party. Members had been given the choice between this, Our Party, Popular Alliance, and For The Many.
This decision came after co-founder Zarah Sultana publicly criticised the selection process, noting that her suggested name, 'Left Party', had not been included as a voting option for members, which she labelled an "undemocratic move".
Leadership Model: A Setback for Corbyn
In a significant development hours before the name was chosen, the conference voted on its leadership model. Delegates opted for a collective, member-led committee over a sole leader, with 51.6% voting in favour.
This was seen as a major setback for Mr Corbyn, who had previously expressed his backing for the "sole leader" model and was expected to stand for the position.
Ms Sultana, a proponent of the collective model, told attendees, "Some will say that the decision to adopt the collective leadership model is a win for me. It is not. It is your win. It is you, the members who have won."
Internal Tensions and Reconciliation
The conference was not without its controversies. A row erupted over the expulsion of several members on the eve of the conference for also being members of the Socialist Workers Party.
This led Ms Sultana to boycott the first day of the conference after one of her supporters, Kingston councillor James Giles, was allegedly denied entry. A spokesperson for Ms Sultana condemned the "witch hunt" and stated she would not enter the conference hall that day.
Your Party hit back, denying claims of a "purge" and stating those expelled had broken "clearly stated membership rules".
Despite the friction, Mr Corbyn had earlier insisted the party had found unity, sending a message of "support and solidarity" to a rally held by Ms Sultana. In his speech on Saturday, he urged, "As a party, we’ve got to come together and be united because division and disunity will not serve the interests of the people that we want to represent."
On the final day, Ms Sultana struck a conciliatory tone, apologising for the "hiccups" in the party's foundation. "Some of that is my fault, and for that I am sorry," she said, while reaffirming her commitment to a party led by its members, not MPs.
In a separate vote, the conference agreed to allow members of other parties to join Your Party if they were found to "align with the party’s values".
