Your Party held its first conference this weekend in Liverpool.
Everything you need to know about the Your Party conference in Liverpool
- Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn officially opened the first conference of his new political project, Your Party, in Liverpool. In his opening address, he made a public call for unity among members and acknowledged that there had been “mistakes” in the party’s establishment process.
- Corbyn stated that the emerging left-wing party has a “unique opportunity” to establish itself as a “socialist party of mass appeal.” He aims for the new movement to stand in opposition to what he calls the current “triopoly of political thinking” dominating the UK Parliament.
- The formation of Your Party has been marked by significant internal conflicts and squabbles since its inception. A prior public disagreement between Corbyn and fellow former Labour MP Zarah Sultana reportedly led to a “flawed membership rollout” and the threat of legal disputes.
- Adding to the internal problems, two other Independent Members of Parliament, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed, withdrew from the party’s founding process. Their departure was partially driven by the continuing internal disagreements within the new political group.
- Despite the initial troubles, Mr. Corbyn suggested the party could use its experience to help others in the future. He proposed producing a manual for establishing a political party, noting others could “learn from our problems, learn from our mistakes.”
- Corbyn delivered a firm message to attendees about the critical need for cohesion within the ranks. He warned that “division and disunity” would ultimately undermine the party’s goals and prevent them from successfully representing the people they aim to serve.
- During his speech, the former Labour leader championed the need for “public, democratic ownership” of the water industry in the UK. He also led a visible chant of “free, free Palestine” and urged members to campaign relentlessly for “real socialism and real social justice.”
- Over the weekend, conference attendees are voting on several crucial aspects of the party’s identity and structure. These votes include selecting a final name, deciding on a leadership model, and determining whether to back “socialist” independent candidates in upcoming local elections.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE: Jeremy Corbyn calls for unity as he opens Your Party conference
