Corbyn’s local election paralysis benefits the far-right

Local elections are coming in fast, with just over six weeks until over 4,850 councillors will be up for election. Labour is justifiably fearing how they will fare as their lurch to the right has disgusted and alienated more left-wing voters. Meanwhile, Your Party still appears to be dithering.

The West is witnessing the rise of the far-right. Billionaires are eagerly funnelling funds into hateful parties like Reform, Advance, and Restore in the UK—all cut from the same cloth as the Canary has long been reporting. As a result, it is more critical than ever that communities have a socialist candidate to cut through the noise of the racist misinformation spread by right-wing politicians.

Despite announcing its formation nearly a year ago, Your Party is dragging its feet, risking leaving communities without a candidate to support. With far-right parties rising rapidly, fielding candidates is clearly achievable in this time frame—but the new party continues to dither.

This begs the question: is this really the best Corbyn and his team can do?

A likely sign of impending disappointment for its members, is Your Party’s failure to back Scottish candidates in the Holyrood elections:

Missed opportunity

The Canary has contacted Your Party and Central Executive Committee (CEC) member Louise Regan to ask whether the party will field official YP candidates in the upcoming local elections. On May 7, there will be 4,850 councillor seats up for election, set against the backdrop of an increasingly divisive political atmosphere.

Far-right parties like Reform and Restore UK have been hard at work inflaming divisions in our communities, actively targeting minoritised communities. Socialist groups across the country stand ready to challenge the far-right on the doorsteps. However with a seemingly silent and inactive YP they are left isolated as independent candidates with no party machine behind them.

Despite numerous groups and candidates appealing to YP for endorsement, they have received no response.

Mike Forster of PACE in Huddersfield believed he had Jeremy Corbyn’s support as a candidate. However, after requesting an endorsement over a week ago, he has received no response from YP. Nevertheless, they have registered with the Electoral Commission at their own expense, and will be able to stand candidates under the banner of PACE.

This failure on behalf of the CEC and the leadership of YP has had a devastating impact on morale among members.

We wrote yesterday about the formation of socialist pressure groups in response to this silence:

Despite the desperate need for unity, solidarity and compassion in British society, the reported behaviour of the CEC has been to silence or intimidate socialist voices into compliance.

Members are feeling increasingly concerned that Your Party will not work to empower them or listen to their communities. Instead, branches are left ignored without access to resources or guidance which has seen local members abandon the party all together in disappointment.

Change of tack from Your Party following uproar

The Canary has now seen an email issued to Your Party members in Scotland. This email follows the widespread anger after Niall Christie’s recent post confirming Scotland would not see candidates in the Holyrood elections. Christie blamed ‘inaction and decisions taken at a UK level’ for this abandonment of Scottish members.

Signalling a potential change of tack, YP are now offering members a choice in the matter:

A ‘Jeremy Corbyn fan club’

Nonetheless, time is flying, and if YP keeps dragging its feet, candidates will have even less time to campaign.

After all, wasn’t this meant to be an active, participatory democracy party?

So far, all the real action is happening at the grassroots, where socialist groups are organising themselves in the absence of Your Party. The executive, meanwhile, seem either unwilling or unmotivated to step up.

Toxic from day one

Your Party has been toxic from the very start—that’s undeniable. Yet the leadership blame whistleblowers and critics for these divisions, revealing the same predictable lack of humility and accountability.

Widespread reports show that Karie Murphy, Corbyn, and his allies strongly opposed Zarah Sultana’s involvement and the idea of co-leadership. As often happens when certain individuals dominate or bully, new groups formed, aligning more with shared principles and values than with the original central leadership.

Nonetheless, YP has seriously undermined how the experience of people across the country who have long been shut down or shut out. This no longer diminishes us into silence but fuels our drive to move forward.

Grassroots groups across the country are bursting with energy, collaboration, and solidarity—it’s truly inspiring. The collective efforts show us that socialism isn’t just an idea—it’s a much needed path towards national healing.

Featured image via the Canary