MP leaves Corbyn’s new left-wing party amid infighting

An independent MP involved in founding Jeremy Corbyn’s new left-wing party has announced he is abandoning the project.

Adnan Hussain claimed he would “step away” from the leadership group of the movement currently operating under the name Your Party, citing a “toxic” culture, particularly towards “Muslim men”.

He also alleged a “pattern of clique behavior and control” and a party “dominated by persistent infighting.”

Hussain’s resignation comes just hours after he signed a joint statement criticizing Zarah Sultana, one of the founders of Your Party, for transferring £200,000 of a reported £800,000 at the center of a major split in the party.

In his letter, Hussain said he had believed he was committing to “building a political home with mass appeal” and “a force capable of challenging the rise of far-right rhetoric.”

“Unfortunately, the reality I found was far from this vision.

“The culture surrounding the party has become dominated by persistent infighting, factional competition and a struggle for power, position and influence rather than a shared commitment to the common good.

“Instead of openness, cooperation and outward focus, too often the environment has felt toxic, exclusionary and deeply discouraging.”

The Blackburn MP added: “I have also been deeply concerned about the way certain figures within the leadership process, particularly Muslim men, have been spoken to and treated.

“At times, the rhetoric used has been eerily similar to that of the very political forces the left claims to oppose. I witnessed insinuations about competence, dismissive attitudes, and language that carried, at the very least, veiled prejudice.”

Hussain’s resignation is just the latest split in the fledgling party that has been dominated by disputes since its launch in July over everything from its leadership, its finances and even its name.

He had been one of six independent MPs who oversaw the founding of Your Party, alongside Corbyn and Sultana.

And before resigning, Hussain had put his name to a letter criticizing Sultana for failing to transfer some £800,000 of party donations held by a company she controls.

The money is in the hands of MoU Operations Ltd, which raised the initial waves of donations while Your Party was formally registering.

On Thursday, Sultana transferred the first £200,000, promising that “further installments will be paid as soon as possible, as the legal details are resolved.”

But the five MPs who at the time were overseeing the founding of His Party – Corbyn, Hussain, Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan and Iqbal Mohamed – called the sum “insufficient” and said they would seek immediate recovery of the remainder.

In a joint statement from the group, issued before Hussain resigned, they said: “Building a democratic party from scratch was never going to be easy. Some of the difficulties we have faced were inevitable, but others were deliberate acts.”

“A dedicated team of volunteers has been working on a shoestring budget to hold a founding conference at the end of the month.

“Your efforts are heroic, but without funding your party’s capacity has been severely restricted.”

The group pledged to “continue to seek the immediate transfer of all monies” and resolve “outstanding legal issues.”

His party insiders say the funds are essential to enable the party’s first conference, which will take place on November 29, where delegates will set the name, rules and leadership model.

A party source said it would probably be “forced to reduce the number of delegates” at the event.

Sultana’s team insists she is acting responsibly as she is “still legally responsible for ensuring the company runs properly.”

A Sultana spokesperson said “reports of potential liabilities are exaggerated” but added that “all remaining funds will be transferred to Your Party once the company’s costs and liabilities have been settled in full.”

“Zarah was not seeking to become sole director of MOU Operations Ltd, but was willing to take on this responsibility after the other five Independent Alliance MPs declined to join her as co-directors,” the spokesperson said.

“The following payments will be paid as soon as possible, as legal details are resolved.”

A further £200,000 is due on November 19, and a third payment of £200,000 is due on November 26, just three days before the party’s founding conference in Liverpool.