Coventry MP Zarah Sultana quits Labour to found new party with Jeremy Corbyn

Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana has resigned from the Labour Party and announced she is founding a new party alongside former leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Ms Sultana, who represents the University of Warwick’s constituency in Parliament, declared in a statement published on social media: “Today, after 14 years, I’m resigning from the Labour Party.

Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners, and activists across the country

Zarah Sultana, Coventry South MP

“Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other independent MPs, campaigners, and activists across the country.”

She continued: “Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper […] Poverty is growing, inequality is obscene, and the two-party system offers nothing but managed decline and broken promises.”

Sultana was previously suspended from Labour, alongside six other MPs, in July 2024 after voting against government policy for the two-child benefit cap to be lifted. 

Following an internal party disciplinary review in February, she was one of three members to remain suspended, alongside Apsana Begum and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell.

Throughout this time, the socialist MP has been outspoken against several government policies, including cuts to the winter fuel allowance and continued arms sales to Israel. She has labelled the UK “an active participant in genocide [in Gaza]”, a claim rejected by the government.

The former left-wing Labour leader is yet to publicly confirm his involvement

Sultana’s announcement comes days after a climb-down by the Labour leadership on cuts to disability benefits, chiefly the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), in the face of a major rebellion by backbench MPs.

Following the vote’s passage, former Labour leader and independent MP Jeremy Corbyn suggested on ITV’s Peston that “there will be an alternative” political party in the near future, refusing to rule himself out as potentially leading the group.

24 hours later, and Sultana has now apparently launched such a party, though the former left-wing Labour leader is yet to publicly confirm his involvement.

Unconfirmed reports suggested he was not informed prior to the launch, and in his own statement, released a day later, Corbyn again remained elusive as to the extent of his own involvement, stating only that “discussions are ongoing”. Confirmation emails sent to those that sign up to Sultana’s attached campaign are signed off only by herself.

Reports have since suggested that those behind the new party intend to formally launch before Parliament breaks up for summer recess on 22 July, with Politico claiming some 200 local government councillors are prepared to join once this happens. Names floated for the group include ‘Assemble’, ‘Collective’, and ‘Real Change’.

Major left-wing figures in Parliament, however, have ruled themselves out of joining the party. This includes fellow independent MP John McDonnell, who said he was “dreadfully sorry” over Ms Sultana’s departure.

Zarah Sultana MP and Warwick Labour were contacted for comment.

This is a developing story and will be updated as details emerge.