Four Preston councillors switch to new Jeremy Corbyn party

A trio of independent Lancashire county councillors have said they will join the new political party being founded by Jeremy Corbyn.

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The three Preston representatives - who are members of the official opposition at County Hall - have signed up to the movement, which will sit firmly on the Left of the political spectrum.

The former Labour Party leader, together with fellow ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana, announced the new entity, provisionally branded 'Your Party', in July.

County councillors Michael Lavalette (Preston Central), former Labour veteran Yousuf Motala (Preston City) and Almas Razakazi (Preston South East) have declared their intention to become part of it.

County Coun Razakazi said the new party "aligns" with the values that the Preston Independents, as they are known, campaigned on in the run-up to the local elections in May - and so is not a departure from the principles which persuaded people to vote for them a matter of months ago.