Corbyn confirms new party to take on Starmer's Labour

Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he is setting up a new left-wing political party to take on Sir Keir Starmer after claiming that “the system is rigged”.

- KATE DEVLIN & DAVID MADDOX

In a message encouraging potential supporters to register their interest, the former Labour leader said it was “time for a new kind of political party - one that belongs to you” and he called for the “mass redistribution of wealth and power”.

The announcement comes after weeks of speculation about the new venture and is a blow to Sir Keir, with the new party threatening to split voters on the left.

While former allies of Mr Corbyn, including ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell, have said they will not join the new party, Mr Corbyn has already united the “Gaza independents” who unseated Labour MPs at the last general election.

A recent Find Out Now poll suggested that the new party would be equal third to Labour in support, with 15 per cent each, behind Reform on 34 per cent and the Tories on 17 per cent.

Mr Corbyn said that the new group, a joint venture with former Labour MP Zarah Sultana, aims to “build a democratic movement that can take on the rich and powerful - and win”. But the announcement sparked confusion after it was unclear what the new party’s name would be.

In his statement, Mr Corbyn, the independent MP for Islington North, urged backers to visit a website called yourparty.uk. But, in response to reports on the new party, Ms Sultana wrote on X (Twitter): “It’s not called Your Party!”

Mr Corbyn later suggested it would be a holding name until the new name is decided in consultation with members. Asked what the new name would be, he said: “We’re going to decide when we’ve had all the responses, and so far the response rate has been massive. They’ve been coming in at 500 a minute wanting to support and join the new party.”

Sultana recently criticised Labour for having 'completely failed to improve people's lives' (PA)