Internal Disagreements Over Party Funds

A significant financial dispute has erupted within 'Your Party', a new left-wing political party in the United Kingdom, threatening to overshadow its upcoming inaugural conference. The disagreement centres on hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations from supporters, currently held in a company now solely directed by co-founder Zarah Sultana. A statement released on Thursday, November 13, 2025, by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and fellow MPs Shockat Adam, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan, and Iqbal Mohamed, confirmed that the party had received only a "small portion" of the withheld funds. The MPs described the situation as "extremely frustrating and disheartening," asserting the transferred amount was "insufficient" and vowing to pursue the immediate release of all donated money.

The Disputed Funds and Company Control

The funds in question, estimated to be around £800,000, are held by a company named MOU Operations Ltd. This company was initially set up by former Labour MP Beth Winter, former North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll, and former South African politician Andrew Feinstein to support the creation of a new progressive political alliance. However, the directors resigned on October 29, 2025, stating the role of holding donations had been "thrust upon" them and citing concerns about a "lack of appropriate governance" within Your Party. Following their resignation, Zarah Sultana assumed sole directorship of MOU Operations Ltd, giving her control over the substantial donations.

Ms. Sultana had offered to transfer £600,000 in tranches, with an initial £200,000 scheduled for transfer on November 12, 2025. Her camp has argued that the remaining funds are being held back to cover potential legal and administrative expenses for the company, for which she is now legally responsible. However, this offer was rejected by Mr. Corbyn's allies, who are demanding the transfer of the full amount, reported to be as high as £850,000, and have accused Ms. Sultana of playing "political games" with supporters' money.

A History of Internal Friction

This financial dispute is the latest in a series of public disagreements that have plagued the party since its inception. Ms. Sultana announced her departure from the Labour Party to form a new entity with Mr. Corbyn in July 2025. The announcement itself was a point of contention, with Mr. Corbyn's supporters reportedly angered by the move, believing he should be the sole figurehead. Further disputes arose in September 2025 over an "unauthorised" membership portal launched by Ms. Sultana, which led to her consulting defamation lawyers after what she termed "politically-motivated" and "baseless attacks." She also described the party's internal dynamics as a "sexist boys' club."

Implications for the New Party

The ongoing power struggle and financial disagreements pose a significant threat to the nascent party's stability and its ability to present a united front. The party is preparing for a crucial founding conference in Liverpool at the end of November 2025, where members are expected to approve a constitution and elect a 21-member executive committee. The delay in accessing the full funds has reportedly restricted the party's operational capacity and could impact the scale of the conference. The party, which registered with the UK's Electoral Commission on September 30, 2025, with Mr. Corbyn as its leader, is also set to decide on a permanent name in October. The internal strife underscores the challenges of establishing robust governance and financial transparency frameworks, crucial for any new political movement seeking to gain public trust. While the events are unfolding in the UK, the lessons on party formation, internal democracy, and financial accountability are universally relevant, offering insights for political observers and participants in Kenya and across the globe.