Less than a month after its launch, Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new left-wing party is already widely viewed as chaotic. Its leadership, rollout strategy, and even its name have sparked unresolved, semi-public disputes. The chance to capitalize on political novelty seems to be slipping away.
For critics who see the left as disorganized and unrealistic, the party’s shaky start—whether it ends up being called “Your Party” or something else—has been a gift. After months of bitter political feuds, the spectacle has provided light relief. “Thank goodness Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana are here to give us a laugh,” wrote Sebastian Murphy in the Daily Express. “Labour’s loony Left has boldly broken free from Starmer’s stifling grip to deliver the funniest political venture since the anti-Brexit centrists of Change UK.” That short-lived party, now largely forgotten, lasted just 10 months after splitting from Labour in 2019.
For left-leaning Britons disillusioned with Labour’s rightward shift and intolerance of dissent, the new party’s messy debut has been disheartening. At a time when radical opposition is clearly needed, why can’t the left agree on a clear direction? Why does it still rely so heavily on Corbyn, a veteran of 42 years in Parliament who hardly represents fresh energy? And where are the sharp strategists needed to build a successful left-wing movement?
Some answers lie in socialism’s struggles in Britain since the 1980s, which have left the movement fractured and unbalanced—weaknesses that resurface whenever it tries to take charge.
Yet despite the confusion and mockery, Corbyn and Sultana’s party has struck a chord. Over 600,000 people have signed up on its basic website for updates—nearly as many as the combined memberships of Labour, the Conservatives, and Reform UK. Even hostile coverage betrays unease. “Something has gone seriously wrong with British society,” wrote Camilla Tominey in the Telegraph, “if a party like this could poll at 18%.” That’s the share of voters who told YouGov they’d consider backing a Corbyn-led alternative. “It’s a rebellion against the broken status quo.”
On the surface, this rebellion resembles past failed attempts to challenge Labour’s dominance of the center-left—parties like Respect, Left Unity, and the Socialist Labour Party. Charismatic figures like Arthur Scargill and George Galloway tried to expand their local influence into national movements, winning a few seats but never sustaining momentum. These efforts were often too personality-driven and ideologically divided to last. With aging leaders and outdated sectarianism, they never felt truly fresh.
This time, Sultana’s involvement—as one of the most digitally savvy young MPs—sends a different signal. So does the participation of strategic minds like Momentum co-founder James Schneider, who helped make Corbyn’s leadership surprisingly dynamic despite widespread skepticism—much like the new party faces now. Six years after Corbynism’s defeat, there’s finally a movement, large and angry enough, to challenge the political establishment. Whether it can avoid past mistakes remains to be seen.A new wave of bright, young left-wing activists has quietly re-entered British politics, largely unnoticed by the mainstream media. However, as tensions between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have shown, bridging the gap between two generations of the left—divided by age and political patience—while also appealing to middle-aged Britons raised under New Labour’s centrist politics remains challenging. These same struggles undermined Corbyn’s leadership and ultimately contributed to its downfall.
Over the past 40 years, the British left has spent so little time in power that it often lacks the skills that come with governing: building coalitions, maintaining message discipline, and creating inclusive yet functional political organizations. Left-wing parties in Britain tend to be fragile, yet they must withstand the strong headwinds of the country’s conservative political culture.
But these weaknesses may matter less now. After 14 years of right-wing rule, frustration with Keir Starmer’s cautious reforms, and anger over his government’s stance on Gaza, many voters are in a rebellious—even reckless—mood. A radical party with a polarizing leader, a chaotic structure, and constant infighting already exists: Reform UK. Its polling lead suggests voters care less about party discipline than journalists do—and more about compelling narratives exposing Britain’s problems. Corbyn and Sultana, whether at rallies or on social media, can deliver these stories just as effectively as Nigel Farage. A recent poll even found Reform voters prefer Corbyn to Starmer, hinting that the new left-wing party could siphon votes from Reform.
While Reform enjoys far more media support, right-wing outlets may still give the left-wing party attention—even favorable coverage—to weaken Labour. The new party must walk a tightrope: keeping its factions united, crafting populist yet realistic policies, and damaging the government without paving the way for Farage to enter Downing Street.
Labour loyalists will argue that a divided left is a defeated left. But if they truly believed that, Starmer’s government would be far more inclusive. In reality, they only tolerate division on their own terms—an entitled and controlling mindset that has now backfired. This risky, imperfect new left-wing party might just endure. And if it does, British politics may never be the same again.
Andy Beckett is a Guardian columnist
