The Left Strikes Back: The Corbyn–Sultana Movement - The Biggest Threat To The Establishment Since Trotsky

Corbyn’s new movement has attracted over 500,000 sign-ups; Labour’s own membership has dropped to around 309,000; polls suggest 10% of voters, and 18% of under-25s, would back a Corbyn-led party.

Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana unveiled plans for a grassroots party this month, aiming to contest local elections in May 2026. The rapid growth of their “Your Party” website has surprised many and has deeply alarmed the political establishment.

Corbyn and Sultana invited supporters to register their interest via yourparty.uk last week. More than 300,000 signed up within 24 hours, rising to 450,000 by Saturday, with Corbyn announcing it had reached 500,000 by Monday.

By contrast, official Labour figures show its membership fell to just 309,000 in February, less than half its peak under Corbyn in 2016 . The contrast underlines a revival of Corbynism outside the Labour machine.

Polls indicate tangible support. A More in Common survey found 10% of voters would back a Corbyn-led party, rising to almost a third of 18–24-year-olds, while YouGov put youth backing at 18% . Professor Rob Ford of Manchester University argues the left is “never stronger” in grassroots groups and independent MPs. He sees Corbyn and Sultana’s move as a response to demand for an alternative, not its cause .

Historical parallels are striking. In the 1980s, the Social Democratic Party broke from Labour only to merge into the Liberal Democrats by the decade’s end. In 2003, George Galloway’s Respect party made ephemeral gains before dissolving in 2016 . Internationally, Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s Nupes alliance in France and Podemos in Spain achieved early success but later fractured .

Critics from the right - some say desperate to give voters ANY reason not to back Corbyn - warn this could aid Reform UK. Some on the right view a hard-left surge as a threat to stability, arguing that division on the left clears the path for Nigel Farage’s populists . What they see as factionalism, supporters call necessary renewal. Sultana says the choice in 2029 will be “socialism or barbarism,” framing it as a fight for the many, not the wealthy .

The new party’s backers highlight cuts to winter fuel payments, rising poverty and arms sales. “Britain should be a voice for peace, not for new nuclear weapons or war,” Corbyn said outside Downing Street last week. His message taps into broader disillusionment with traditional parties and growing grassroots energy.

Whether this movement coalesces into a durable political force remains uncertain. Organisers plan an autumn founding conference. Labour insiders fret at the threat to Keir Starmer’s local election prospects. Labour’s strategy of purging the left, rather than engaging with its policies, now looks increasingly short-sighted.

By expelling Jeremy Corbyn and sidelining figures like Rebecca Long-Bailey, the leadership may have believed it was neutralising a threat. But what the Labour right viewed as a show of strength has revealed itself to be a fatal vulnerability - a political Achilles’ heel.

Instead of silencing the movement, the crackdown has became a catalyst. Had the left remained within Labour, it might have been easier to contain or co-opt. Now, with the rise of an independent grassroots platform, Labour faces the prospect of an organised rival with mass support.

If this new party succeeds, it could mark the final collapse of Labour as a meaningful political force - a hollowed-out shell that stands for nothing and inspires no one. The Party of Potholes. Meanwhile, advocates believe this is the moment to channel popular anger into lasting change.

What we are witnessing is the beginning of a revolution. We may not know it yet. But the old way of doing things may soon be as historical as the fact the last Tsar of Russia was Nicholas II; the last Labour Prime Minister was Keir Starmer.

A historical reformist movement for equality that capitulated to the dictates of capitalism. Soon, possibly, to be confined to the dustbin of history.

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References:

Barnett, Daniel. “Corbyn hints at ‘Your Party’ as name for new political movement as sign-ups near 500,000.” LBC, 27 July 2025. https://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/uk-politics/corbyn-party-name-sultana/

Guardian Reporters. “Signs of new life: is the British left making a comeback?” The Guardian, 12 July 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/jul/12/is-the-british-left-making-a-comeback-uk-politics

Wikipedia Contributors. “Labour Party (UK).” Wikipedia, last revised 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)