Internal Turmoil: Sultana Accuses Corbyn's New Party of a 'Witch Hunt' Against Activists

Zarah Sultana, a prominent figure in the new party being established by Jeremy Corbyn, has raised serious allegations against party officials, claiming they are conducting a ”witch hunt” to purge leftist activists. Her accusations come on the heels of notable expulsions of members affiliated with the Socialist Workers Party, which she claims were unjustly ousted for allegedly violating membership rules prohibiting dual party affiliation.

Sultana chose to boycott the inaugural day of the party’s conference, named Your Party, after expressing her concerns about the treatment of these expelled members. In a statement to the BBC, Sultana revealed that a staff member was also denied access to the conference, a move that party officials attributed to non-political reasons. Despite this, Sultana condemned these actions, emphasizing that a ”toxic culture” akin to what she perceives in the Labour Party should not be replicated in their new endeavor. She criticized the lack of transparent decision-making, stating that ”nameless and faceless bureaucrats” were acting without proper member votes on expulsions.

In defense of the expulsions, a Your Party spokesman clarified that rules were enforced to maintain the integrity of the party since certain members had joined in contradiction of its stated policies. The spokesperson emphasized their commitment to democratic practices in building a party grounded in grassroots politics.

During the conference, Corbyn called for unity, recognizing the party’s chance to become a ”socialist party of mass appeal”. He admitted previous mistakes in the party’s formation, highlighting internal conflicts that have led to resignations from figures like Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed, who both criticized Sultana for not promptly transferring substantial donations accumulated by the party. As of now, Sultana has transferred £600,000 to the party, promising to resolve the remaining legalities around the £800,000 in question.

Corbyn’s address was marked by calls for effective campaigning for socialism and social justice, as he stressed that disunity undermines their mission to represent the public. The founding of Your Party thus stands at a crossroads, threatened by internal strife amidst its ambitions to redefine leftist politics in the UK.