Sultana threatens to sue as spat with Corbyn escalates

Zarah Sultana says she has consulted defamation lawyers as the row that has engulfed the fledgling political party she created with Jeremy Corbyn escalates.

- KATE DEVLIN

Hours after diplomatic efforts behind the scenes got underway in a bid to ease tensions within Your Party, Ms Sultana said she had been on the receiving end of “baseless attacks” that were “politically motivated”.

And in a statement posted on X, she said she had “instructed specialist defamation lawyers” after she was “the subject of a number of false and defamatory statements”.

On Friday, The Independent revealed that some in the party were still pushing ahead with plans for a party conference in November, even as the row over membership ignited.

In her statement, Ms Sultana said: “Over the last 24 hours, a number of false and defamatory statements have been published about me concerning the launch of Your Party’s membership portal.

“The portal was properly launched in accordance with the party’s roadmap. At no point was members’ data misused or put at risk. All funds received from members were ringfenced and protected in the appropriate manner.”