Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana agree to launch leftwing party

Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have reached agreement over the launch of a leftwing party after weeks of discussions.

The new movement has yet to be named but has an interim website under the moniker of Your Party. In a tweeted statement, the two former Labour MPs appealed to would-be supporters to register their interest in “a new kind of political party – one that belongs to you”.

The statement added: “The system is rigged when 4.5 million children live in poverty in the sixth-richest country in the world. The system is rigged when giant corporations make a fortune from rising bills. The system is rigged when the government says there is no money for the poor, but billions for war. We cannot accept these injustices, and neither should you.”

The website said: “Soon, we’ll host an inaugural founding conference so you can help shape how your party works, what it stands for, and how we organise to win.”

The announcement ends a period of uncertainty that began in early June when Sultana, who became the Labour MP for Coventry South in 2019 but lost the whip shortly after last year’s election, said she was quitting the party to co-lead a new movement alongside Corbyn.

This appeared to come as a surprise to Corbyn, the former Labour leader who lost the whip in 2020 but was re-elected last year as the MP for Islington North on an independent ticket. At the time of Sultana’s announcement, he had not committed to the idea of a new party, or agreed that the pair should be co-leaders.

Later in June, Sultana launched a fundraising drive and supporter sign-up page under her own name, with Corbyn saying only that “discussions were ongoing” on what would happen next. At the start of July, Corbyn confirmed he and Sultana were in talks about a new party.

The joint statement on Thursday said the party would push for “a mass redistribution of wealth and power”, involving more taxation of the rich and public ownership of energy and water companies, as well as rail and postal services.

On Gaza, the statement said, the new party would demand an end to arms sales to Israel and “defend the right to protest against genocide”.

It added: “The great dividers want you to think that the problems in our society are caused by migrants or refugees. They’re not. They are caused by an economic system that protects the interests of corporations and billionaires.

“It’s time for a new kind of political party. One that is rooted in our communities, trade unions and social movements. One that builds power in all regions and nations. One that belongs to you.”

Polling has suggested that the new party could gain about 10% of the vote, damaging the electoral prospects of Labour and the Greens. However, Labour sources have been dismissive of the threat from Corbyn, who lost the 2017 and 2019 elections as party leader.