Former Labour leader in city for first conference of ‘Your Party’ amid tensions and power struggles
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn(Image: Getty Images)
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was “very happy to be in Liverpool” as his new political party looks to move on from a difficult start to set out its vision for Britain.
Mr Corbyn is co-founding the new ‘Your Party’ with fellow former Labour MP Zarah Sultana and the new party’s inaugural conference begins today at Liverpool’s Arena and Convention Centre, where they will aim to decide on how the party will be structured, its founding principles and even its long-term name.
But the road to this point has been a fraught one, with the period since the new party formation was announced earlier this year dogged by reported infighting and power struggles.
Things didn’t get off to a great start in July when Coventry MP Ms Sultana announced she was quitting the Labour Party and would co-lead a new movement alongside Mr Corbyn. This was followed by reports that the former Labour leader had not in fact confirmed this decision – he would later publicly state that “discussions were ongoing.”
Two independent MPs – Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed – both signed up for the fledgling new party but have recently quit. Mr Hussain said he was stepping away citing a “toxic culture” towards Muslim men.
Despite the problems, Mr Corbyn told the ECHO on Friday that he was delighted to be back in the city of Liverpool, where he held numerous large rallies during his time as Labour leader.
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana(Image: Getty Images)
He said: “It is lovely to be back in Liverpool. I can’t think of a better place to found Your Party than here in Liverpool.”
Speaking about the party’s plans, he added: “We are not just going to follow the economic line of austerity like the Conservatives and Labour, we will be looking seriously at the issue of poverty and how we create change.”
Asked about the tensions surrounding the new party, Mr Corbyn suggested that no one had yet found “a book on how to form a political party”, but added that he was confident that everyone involved will come together this weekend.
Earlier on Friday the Islington MP visited Beacon Counselling Trust, a mental health charity in north Liverpool which provides specialist services for suicide bereavement and gambling-related harms.
Taking aim at his former party in government, he accused the Labour administration of “creating an economy of stress and despair” and said Labour had added to the country’s mental health crisis by failing to tackle poverty or reduce the cost of living.
Mr Corbyn added: ““I meet people every week who are worried about feeding their kids, paying the rent or losing vital benefits. Britain’s mental health crisis is a product of political choices taken by this government. That includes the refusal to control private rent or end the energy rip-off.
“That includes their war on disability and sickness benefits. And it includes the failure to take real action on the climate crisis causing immense despair for young people.”