Party splits Is the British left showing signs of making a comeback?

In the past week alone, 100 people have signed up to Majority, a progressive coalition based in the north-east of England that advocates for wealth taxes, public ownership of key utilities and upholding universal human rights.

- Aletha Adu and Harriet Sherwood

In the past week alone, 100 people have signed up to Majority, a progressive coalition based in the north-east of England that advocates for wealth taxes, public ownership of key utilities and upholding universal human rights. It may not seem a huge number in a country of 57 million people, but it is part of a bigger picture of grassroots activity on the left that is fuelled by dismay at Labour's record after a year in government, anger over its perceived targeting of the poorest and most vulnerable with benefits cuts, and horror at the relentless killing in Gaza.

Almost five years after Jeremy Corbyn was suspended from the Labour party and the left retreated to lick its wounds, there are clear signs of renewed confidence and willingness to take on those standing in the way of their principles and goals.

Leftwing initiatives and coalitions have sprung up. As well as Majority, there is We Deserve Better, set up by the activist and Guardian columnist Owen Jones - who left Labour after 24 years - which is raising funds to support alternative candidates; and Collective, a network of campaign groups and individuals led by two of Corbyn's inner circle, which claims to be the "engine that will drive the formation of a new, mass-membership political party of the left in the UK".

Independent candidates on the left have done well at national and local elections. Corbyn, who was banned from standing for Labour in last year's election, won handsomely as an independent. Four pro-Palestinian independents who campaigned largely over Gaza also beat Labour rivals, and another came close to defeating the health secretary, Wes Streeting. The resurgent Greens won four seats.

In last year's local elections, Jamie Driscoll, who set up Majority after being blocked from standing as a Labour candidate for mayor of the north-east, came second with a 28% share of the vote.