How not to launch a new political party

Beset by infighting, confusion and even allegations of sexism, the launch of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new party provides a masterclass in how not to start a new movement.

What’s in a name?

One of the most crucial elements when launching a new political party is a clear and impactful name – but not in this case. Announced in July under ‘Your Party’, political commentators understandably assumed that this was the name of the new movement – that’s until Sultana took to X to clarify that it was not in fact called Your Party, with no further explanation. It was later decided that the name of the party will be chosen in consultation with members.

Strong and stable leadership

A new party needs an inspiring leader at the helm. If it is to be led by multiple people, they need to be united about the structure and direction of the party, but this has not been the case for Your Party. Shortly following the launch, The Times reported that Corbyn never actually wanted to launch a party with Sultana and that he was ‘furious’ that the announcement had been made.

Since then, matters have not exactly improved. In September, Sultana said that she had been ‘sidelined’ by the party’s ‘sexist boys club’. The comments emerged after Sultana sent an ‘unauthorised’ email about the party’s membership portal, which Corbyn said he was seeking ‘legal advice’ about. The two reportedly reconciled a few days later, but not permanently – just this month, another public feud allegedly broke out between them, this time over the transfer of hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations.

While all this was unfolding, it emerged that under draft party guidance, the party will actually only have one leader. Sultana has said that she will throw her hat in the ring, so further conflict is likely to be on the horizon.

The offer

Beyond declaring that ‘the system is rigged’, taking on the ‘rich and powerful’ and advocating for ‘a mass redistribution of wealth and power’, it is unclear what the new party stands for. Their website includes some fairly generic pledges, including bringing utilities into public ownership and ‘investing in a massive council-house building programme’ – these may all be commendable, but saying that they are going to be funded by ‘taxing the very richest in our society’ doesn’t stack up as serious policy platform.

Where they have offered some more insights into their policy, it hasn’t gone too well. Foreign policy could be a stumbling block for the party (those who watched Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party closely will not be surprised), with Sultana’s comments about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy going down like a lead balloon.

Stand out from the crowd

Corbyn and Sultana might not have predicted the massive boost to the Greens’ polling and membership, triggered by the election of the party’s new leader Zack Polanski and Labour’s rising unpopularity.

The Greens now have over 150,000 members, an 80% increase since Polanski’s election. The polls tell a similar story, with the latest national polls showing the Greens in fourth place on 15% of the vote, in second place in London (just two points behind Labour) and miles ahead with 18 to 24 year olds, polling in first place on 32%.

Membership figures and polling aside, it is hard to determine what exactly differentiates the two parties (so much so that Polanski encouraged Sultana to join the Greens) – probably because Your Party does not yet have any concrete policies.

A government-in-waiting?

The failure to properly and professionally launch Your Party in a coherent, positive and transparent manner doesn’t chime well with Sultana’s claim that they want to ‘run government’. Why would those seeking an alternative to Labour on the left support Your Party when the Greens are offering a credible alternative?

If Your Party is to compete, they need to turn things around – and quick. It could be that their upcoming party conference (29-30 November) and leadership election professionalises the party and transforms it into a serious force, but the way things are going, it looks like the melodrama is to continue – to the party’s detriment, and the Greens’ advantage.