What’s this new party about?
Recently, Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn and former Labour MP, Zarah Sultana (who has historically fallen on the left of Labour) have announced that they are starting a new leftwing political party. For some people on the left, this provides them a sense of hope, especially with the recent rise of the far-right which I have mentioned recently that I am concerned about, and with good reason to be so. Corbyn and Sultana have pledged to make this a party for the people, even referring to it as ‘your party,’ and relying on the support of the people, as opposed to being funded by billionaires.
This itself indicates that they are trying to present themselves as free from the influence of the rich and powerful, and create a party for the people, supported by the people. This, to me at least, seems to be a good start.
What are their beliefs?
Historically, Sultana has been on the left of the Labour Party, having been ousted from the Labour Party after voting for scrapping the two-child benefit cap. She has gone on record to say, ‘we are all Palestine Action’ and has shown clear support for the Palestinian cause. She declared solidarity with transgender women when the UK Supreme Court made the decision that trans women will no longer be considered as women under UK law. This would indicate that she is a supporter of marginalised groups in societies, which will doubtless appeal to many.
Corbyn has been known for his left-wing views throughout the years, and it seems as though he has often been slated by the media for them. Corbyn has also condemned Israel’s genocide in Gaza, calling what is happening, ‘disgusting’. He has long been an ally to the LGBTQ+ community (since the 70s and 80s, before pro-LGBT perspectives were more mainstream) and has shown support for the trans community in the wake of the UK Supreme Court decision back in April.
It is clear that their values align, and that they both support and bolster the voices of those who have historically been, and indeed continue to be, marginalised in modern British society.
A threat to the right – and a challenge to Labour?
There’s been talk that this new left-wing party could be a threat to the far-right, whose power has been increasing, and to the right as a whole. With a total of 400,000 signed-up supporters (allegedly more than Reform) it is no wonder that this could potentially be the case. UK-based online leftist spaces have become more positive as of late; people seem to be feeling hopeful about this new party and what they could do for our country. They offer an alternative to the Greens, who some leftists have been voting for, as opposed to Labour (who have been centre and centre-right recently).
It has been suggested that Corbyn and Sultana may be targeting voters who in 2024 voted for Labour, due to not wanting Reform and the Conservatives to take power. Given that Labour won that election, if they can convince those who would otherwise be Labour supporters, in spite of Labour becoming more right-wing than before, they could potentially win an election by a small minority.
Bearing that in mind, what could the new party’s performance in the next General Election look like?
What are their odds like for the next general election?
According to YouGov, 18% of Britons say that they are open to voting for a left-wing party led by Jeremy Corbyn in the next General Election. Considering the fact that this party has only recently been officially announced, this shows a lot of promise. After all, they have four years to establish themselves in the public conscience, and this could mean that this number increases. Additionally, pollsters Find Out now found that they could draw level with Labour in an upcoming election by gaining 15% of the vote, which is a start and positive step forward.
That said, who could take the rest of the vote?
Fears about the far-right
As of the 30th of June 2025, Reform is apparently 8% ahead of Labour (https://theconversation.com/reform-leads-in-voting-intentions-but-where-does-their-vote-come-from-257754) , and if there were to be a general election soon, they would be predicted to win it with a comfortable majority, according to Electoral Calculus. This is highly concerning for many people, myself included, as I have posited in the three articles which I have written thus far about the threat of Reform not only in Lancashire, but in the UK as a whole.
The rise of Reform UK in Lancashire: why I’m concerned
With the increase in more polarising political views, including the concerning rise in the far-right, Reform appears to be gaining...
I was right to be worried about Reform UK: why we need to respond to Lancashire’s local election results
Well, the local election results are in – and it looks like I was right to be worried
Farage in Lancashire: a sign of things to come?
I was right to be concerned, but with Farage in Lancashire, I am worried more now than ever
It is quite possible, in my eyes, that this country is headed down a dark path if we do not change our thinking. The far-right are becoming more powerful across the globe, at a time when radical change is needed for the sake of protecting vulnerable communities, stopping the genocide in Gaza and wars around the world, and working to stop climate change from wiping us all out.
There’s hope yet
Despite all of this, I still feel as though there is hope yet. I have seen the efforts of local political parties in stopping the terrifying rise of far-right beliefs, and in banding together as a community. I also feel hopeful, knowing Sultana and Corbyn’s beliefs, that they can elicit real change in our country and eventually, maybe even change the way in which power operates in our country. I am a naturally optimistic person, so do take this with a pinch of salt, though.
Nonetheless, knowing that there are now half a million supporters of this new left-wing political party, and that people – ordinary people, just like me – have already funded this party, is very uplifting and encouraging. As stated above, they have four years to show us all who they are and what they stand for. Some have expressed concern that this will be a ‘flash in the pan’, so to speak. However, with them having this mainstream courage and Zack Polanski (of the Green Party) stating that the Greens would be happy to work with them against Reform, the Conservatives and what he describes as the ‘failing’ current Labour government, I cannot help but believe that this could be a driver of real change.
Concluding thoughts
To conclude, I believe that there is hope. Sure, people’s minds cannot be changed overnight – but with the new party targeting those who have typically aligned themselves with the left, or not with the right, I believe they have a fighting chance. I believe this to be especially true in the light of the 400,000 supporters they have gained in less than a week (at the time of writing) and The Green Party’s support. Knowing that their beliefs align with my own fills me with hope and excitement. I look forward to seeing what they do.
If you would like to get involved, you can sign up using the link in Jeremy Corbyn or Zarah Sultana’s Instagram bios, or by going to https://www.yourparty.uk/#//.’ If you have the financial means to do so, you can donate. We can also use our voices. Give them air time, talk about this new party, explicitly show their support.
Our current government may not be helping the people, but I have faith in this new party. For once, I am excited about the political future of our country.
Are you?
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