Sultana claims new Corbyn party carrying out 'witch hunt' against activists

Zarah Sultana has accused leading figures in the new party she co-founded with Jeremy Corbyn of conducting a "witch hunt" against left-wing activists.

Ms Sultana cancelled her appearance on the first day of the founding conference for the project, now known as 'Your Party', after several members who also belonged to the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) were expelled. Party leaders stated the expulsions were for violating rules that prohibit members from joining any other political party in the United Kingdom or abroad.

Ms Sultana's remarks came as Mr Corbyn used his conference address to call for unity, describing the launch as an "extraordinary opportunity" to build "a socialist party of mass appeal."

'Nameless and Faceless Bureaucrats'

Ms Sultana told the BBC that one of her employees had also been refused a ticket for the conference. A pass had not been issued by the party's leaders, who denied that the decision was politically motivated.

"This witch hunt is indefensible," a spokesperson for Ms Sultana said. "We must create a party that accepts all socialists."

When asked by the BBC if she stood by the assertion that there was a witch hunt, Ms Sultana replied: "Absolutely."

"It's disgusting to see the kind of behaviour we've seen in the Labour Party," she said. "It's a [hostile] environment we are not trying to imitate here."

Ms Sultana claimed that "nameless and faceless bureaucrats" were "working in the shadows" to oust people "without the membership actually voting on it." She argued that members of other organisations "shouldn't be forced to choose" between their existing membership and the new party.

In response, a spokesperson for Your Party said: "Members of another national political party pledged their support for Your Party in breach of clearly stated membership rules, and these [rules] were followed."

"We're focusing on staging a democratic founding conference with thousands of citizens coming together to discuss and decide the big questions. This is politics outside of Westminster's mould: from the ground up, not the top down."

Financial Disputes and Resignations

In his address, Mr Corbyn admitted there had been "mistakes" during the party's turbulent beginning—a process that has seen Ms Sultana frequently at odds with party leaders and two MPs resign from the project.

MPs Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed quit within a week of each other, citing internal tensions. Both men had signed a letter accusing Ms Sultana of failing to transfer an estimated £800,000 of Your Party contributions held by a company she controls.

MoU Operations Ltd, which collected the initial waves of donations while Your Party was being officially registered, is holding the funds. Ms Sultana has transferred £600,000, with the promise that any remaining funds will be paid "as soon as possible" once legal terms are resolved.

Speaking on Saturday, Mr Corbyn said: "We've got to come together and be united as a party, because division and disunity will not represent the people we want to represent."

He also called for "public, democratic control" of the water industry, triggered a chant of "Free, Free Palestine," and encouraged party members to "campaign for real socialism and real social justice."