Edward Torsney

After the Corbyn project was destroyed by the British Establishment, through smear campaigns and the weaponisation of false allegations of antisemitism against Labour members (including me), it seemed the country would inevitably spiral into fascism led by Starmer’s openly racist, pro-genocide, pro-Zionism government.

Hope was in short supply in these desolate years and in searching for an alternative, tired of waiting for a new left party, many of us drifted away from the Corbyn project and turned to the Green Party as the only remaining ember of humanity in the scorched-earth political landscape of Parliament.

At least they wanted a better world for the kids. We hung on to that, and because we are restless, driven by morality and an unquenchable desire for social justice, we got involved.

In 2025 after a number of false starts and seemingly never ending promises, intimations and long-grass rumination, the long awaited (6 years!) new left party was announced by Zarah Sultana MP in a hurried social media post.

Almost immediately those close to Corbyn were advising against it and even put out statements via Corbyn that this was not their official position. But Zarah’s initiative had made it a fait accompli. Within 24hrs, 18,000 people had signed up and on 24th July Corbyn and Sultana issued a joint statement saying they would be forming “Your Party”, with over 250,000 members (now upwards of 750,000).

Like it or not, Corbyn’s faction (including the likes of James Schneider and Karie Murphy) were along for the ride on what was seemingly 90% Zarah’s project. Of course as far as comms goes at least, this put them on the back foot and the optics were plainly showing Zarah trailblazing and championing the left, a magnet to hundreds of thousands of disillusioned, politically homeless good people. All whilst Corbyn and his team were hesitating, seemingly dumbstruck by the fact that their power-base had essentially been whipped away in a matter of minutes by Zarah Sultana.

Now it’s important to note here that these people, those in Corbyn’s inner circle, are known by many to be very ‘driven’ and ruthless and when it comes to wielding or holding on to power. So it’s quite easy to imagine them being absolutely furious with Sultana and her team for this blinding, lighting coup which had left them reeling and desperately clawing to catch up.

Who wouldn’t want to be a fly on the wall on the inside of YourParty, this last month? The feisty Sultana grouping duking it out with the entrenched Corbyn faction? The mind boggles. Needless to say there has been some choice analysis on X. Most notably from the indubitable Dr. David Miller who seems to have relished the opportunity to dissect, slice and dice the reputations, motives and questionable connections of James Schneider and Karie Murphy who appear now to have consolidated their control of YourParty, seemingly at the expense of democratic process.

The thrust of this criticism stems from Zarah’s categorical and hugely popular declaration of anti-Zionism and her commitment to fighting the Israel lobby and their smears fearlessly and head-on. This is in contrast to the ‘safe’ position taken by those around Corbyn who were accused of capitulation in the past when the smears were flying – a capitulation which arguably ended the Corbyn project. Some went further to suggest that those briefing Corbyn to capitulate were in fact agents of the Israeli/American campaign against the British left. (Schneider and Murphy).

NB: Before the genocide of Gaza, being anti-Zionist was a highly controversial stance, despite the outward signs of apartheid and gross human rights abuses of the Israeli regime. It has sadly taken the slaughter of 320,000 civilians and the most demonic, well documented, horrendous genocide and starvation campaign by the Zionists to validate the anti-Zionist position politically.

In any case, here’s what Miller said regarding Karie Murphy:

https://x.com/tracking_power/status/1958310700469612559?s=46

As well as Murphy, there are huge criticisms of James Schneider from within the party also in relation to their policy of capitulation to the inevitable resurgence of antisemitism smears against YourParty by the pro genocide Zionist movement and accompanying British mainstream media. His connections to the Starmer regime via his spouse being Starmer’s head of Comms, seem to present a conflict of interests at the very least:

So the big question right now is – can the two factions coexist in Your Party? The issue of Zionism and the genocide of Gaza has already, it seems, brought them to an impossible impasse. Zarah can’t do a u-turn on her absolute commitment to dismantling Zionism and retain ANY credibility, nor can Corbyn’s team change their stance due to their alleged deep-state directives and their support for the disgraced and corrupt IHRA definition of antisemitism which includes anti Zionism and criticism of Israel as implicitly antisemitic. And to top it off, Zarah must surely know by now that James and Karie have only their own interests at heart.

Which brings us to this photo:

Zarah Sultana and Zack Polanski pose at Forwards Festival under the word HOPE. Zack is on the verge of becoming leader of the Green Party and Zarah has captured the vision and hopes of at least half of the 750,000 members to sign up to Your Party. Her position in that party is looking more and more untenable, so is Zarah Sultana MP about to make an historic leap to the Green Party? Bringing 400,000 eco-socialist minded members, a seat in Parliament and a fully fledged anti-Zionism movement with her?

This really would be an epic move for British politics. A chance to kick the fascists Starmer and Farage into the sidelines. Zack and Zarah would make a dynamic, formidable team.

There’s a famous picture of Corbyn with the word HOPE above him. Does Hope have a new home?

Could it?

Perhaps I’m just an over excited dreamer. But surely I’m not the only one…