In a seismic shift for British politics, Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana has dramatically resigned from the Labour Party, dealing a significant blow to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.
The outspoken socialist MP will co-found a new left-wing organisation, the 'Movement for Workers', positioning it as a grassroots alternative to what she describes as a Labour Party that has 'abandoned its principles'.
A Party That 'No Longer Serves Working People'
In her powerful resignation statement, Sultana didn't hold back. She declared the modern Labour Party under Starmer's leadership has fundamentally betrayed the values it once stood for.
'Today's Labour Party isn't the same party I joined,' she stated. 'It has abandoned the principles that made me proud to be a member – and it's working people who will pay the price.'
Her criticism extended to specific policy reversals, highlighting Labour's shift on key issues like public ownership, green investment, and workers' rights that defined Jeremy Corbyn's leadership era.
The Birth of a New Socialist Movement
Sultana will join forces with other prominent left-wing figures, including former Corbyn aide Matt Zarb-Cousin, to launch the Movement for Workers.
This new organisation aims to:
- Mobilise grassroots support for socialist policies outside parliamentary structures
- Challenge both Conservative and Labour positions seen as hostile to working-class interests
- Build a movement that prioritises principles over electoral compromise
The movement plans to support trade union disputes and community campaigns, adopting a more activist-oriented approach than traditional political parties.
Starmer's Left-Wing Exodus Continues
Sultana's departure represents another significant loss for Labour's left wing following Starmer's consolidation of power. Her exit follows:
- The removal of the whip from Jeremy Corbyn
- The departure of several left-wing MPs who chose not to seek re-election
- Ongoing tensions over policy direction and internal party democracy
As a sitting MP with a considerable public profile, Sultana's defection carries symbolic weight beyond mere numbers, signalling deepening divisions within what was once Labour's broad church.
What This Means for Coventry South
Constituents in Coventry South now face an unusual situation: their MP will serve the remainder of the current parliamentary term as an independent, having chosen to leave the party they elected her under.
This development raises questions about political representation and whether Sultana's new movement might eventually evolve into a formal political party capable of challenging Labour in future elections.
For now, the Movement for Workers represents another significant realignment in British left-wing politics, suggesting that Starmer's consolidation of the centre-ground continues to come at a cost.
