Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's new leftwing party has formally adopted the name 'Your Party' after an overwhelming majority of members voted in favour. The party had been provisionally known by this title since its inception earlier this year, but it now seems that the moniker is here to stay.
However, the conference also laid bare deep divisions within the party. A vote on whether the party's leadership structure should be more collective or have a single leader resulted in a narrow victory for those advocating for a group-led approach. This decision has effectively sidestepped a potentially contentious showdown between Corbyn and Sultana, who have been locked in a bitter power struggle.
Sultana had attempted to rebrand the party as 'For The Many' earlier this year, but that name failed to gain traction with members. Popular Alliance and Our Party were also on the shortlist, receiving 25% and 23% of the vote respectively. Meanwhile, Corbyn had expressed concerns over the possibility of a group-led executive struggling to connect with the public.
The party's conference ended on a tense note, with Sultana apologising for some of the 'hiccups' during the party's launch and urging her fellow members to "confront" the issues that led to expulsions and bans. This was met with loud applause from some attendees, but others remained seated, indicating deep divisions within the party.
Critics within the party believe Sultana is trying to undermine Corbyn and push for a purist vision of socialism. Some have also accused her faction of seeking to exclude socially conservative Muslims and pave the way for radical far-left groups to influence the party's direction. The debate continued late into the evening, with calls being made to remove the current leadership.
Despite these tensions, some positive developments emerged from the conference. Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing dual membership of other political groups, which could provide a lifeline for those who want to continue engaging with their existing parties while still being part of Your Party.
The party's new executive will now review its options and may consider revising its leadership structure before the next general election. With tensions simmering beneath the surface, it remains to be seen how this leftwing party will navigate its internal divisions in the coming years.
However, the conference also laid bare deep divisions within the party. A vote on whether the party's leadership structure should be more collective or have a single leader resulted in a narrow victory for those advocating for a group-led approach. This decision has effectively sidestepped a potentially contentious showdown between Corbyn and Sultana, who have been locked in a bitter power struggle.
Sultana had attempted to rebrand the party as 'For The Many' earlier this year, but that name failed to gain traction with members. Popular Alliance and Our Party were also on the shortlist, receiving 25% and 23% of the vote respectively. Meanwhile, Corbyn had expressed concerns over the possibility of a group-led executive struggling to connect with the public.
The party's conference ended on a tense note, with Sultana apologising for some of the 'hiccups' during the party's launch and urging her fellow members to "confront" the issues that led to expulsions and bans. This was met with loud applause from some attendees, but others remained seated, indicating deep divisions within the party.
Critics within the party believe Sultana is trying to undermine Corbyn and push for a purist vision of socialism. Some have also accused her faction of seeking to exclude socially conservative Muslims and pave the way for radical far-left groups to influence the party's direction. The debate continued late into the evening, with calls being made to remove the current leadership.
Despite these tensions, some positive developments emerged from the conference. Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing dual membership of other political groups, which could provide a lifeline for those who want to continue engaging with their existing parties while still being part of Your Party.
The party's new executive will now review its options and may consider revising its leadership structure before the next general election. With tensions simmering beneath the surface, it remains to be seen how this leftwing party will navigate its internal divisions in the coming years.