Zarah Sultana has sought legal advice from defamation lawyers following a public disagreement with Jeremy Corbyn over the launch of a paid membership system for their new political party, provisionally called “Your party.”
Sultana claims she has faced “politically motivated” personal attacks during the dispute. Corbyn had earlier advised people against using what he called a “supposed membership portal” and mentioned that legal steps were being considered regarding its introduction.
On Friday evening, Sultana stated she had been targeted by “baseless, politically motivated attacks on my character” and announced she had hired defamation lawyers to “hold those responsible to account.” The MP for Coventry South insisted that several false and damaging statements had been made about her. She maintained that the membership portal was launched correctly according to the party’s plans, that no member data was misused or put at risk, and that all funds were properly secured.
Sultana had previously accused those involved in the disagreement of operating like a “sexist boys’ club,” claiming she was treated poorly and left out of decisions.
Meanwhile, Corbyn publicly defended Karie Murphy, a key aide whom Sultana had criticised over the party’s management. Speaking at his Peace and Justice Project conference, Corbyn praised Murphy’s dedication, saying she would “walk on burning coals for a cause she believes in,” and expressed dismay at the personal criticism directed at her. He rarely involves himself so directly in such disputes or names staff publicly.
Sultana had earlier raised concerns about Murphy having sole control over members’ money and conference decisions, calling it undemocratic.
The conflict began when an invitation was sent to supporters asking them to sign up and financially back the new party. Corbyn called this an “unauthorised email” and, along with four other independent MPs working with him and Sultana, warned people not to use the link.
In response, Sultana explained that she launched the portal after being excluded from official accounts and decision-making by the other MPs. She urged supporters to sign up, calling the portal “safe, secure, and legitimate,” and stated her goal was to protect grassroots involvement in the party.On
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the situation between Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn presented in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
1 Who is Zarah Sultana
Zarah Sultana is a British Labour Party Member of Parliament for Coventry South first elected in 2019
2 Who is Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn is a former leader of the Labour Party and has been an independent MP for Islington North since being suspended from the Labour Party in 2020
3 What is this dispute about
The dispute is about the allocation of funds from a Corbynism fundraising initiative Sultana claims a commitment was made to provide financial support to her local party for campaigning which she says was not fulfilled
4 What does sought legal advice mean
It means Zarah Sultana has consulted with specialist lawyers to understand if she has a valid legal case specifically for defamation and what her options are
5 What is defamation
Defamation is the act of communicating a false statement to a third party that harms the reputation of an individual business or organization In the UK it is divided into libel and slander
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 Why would this be a defamation issue and not just a financial dispute
Sultanas legal action appears to be based on public statements made about her during the dispute If she believes these statements were false and damaged her reputation that moves the issue from a private financial disagreement into the realm of defamation law
7 What might Zarah Sultana be hoping to achieve with legal action
Potential goals could include a public retraction of the statements she disputes a formal apology financial damages for harm to her reputation and a legal order to stop further similar statements
8 What are the potential downsides or risks for her in taking this step
Legal battles are expensive timeconsuming and can generate significant negative publicity There is also a risk of losing the case which could result in her having to pay both her own and the other sides legal costs
9 Is it common for MPs to sue each other especially from the same political wing
No
