Four people have been thrown out of a rally of Jeremy Corbyn’s new party as his new political movement descended into bitter factional warfare on the eve of its founding conference.
The event, billed as ‘An Evening of Culture & Politics’ in central Liverpool, descended into a shouting match tonight as black-clad security guards hauled out the troublemakers. Some in the crowd yelled “let them stay”, while others were heard muttering: “There’s always nutters.” The rally opened with a musician leading the room in a full-throated rendition of I’m a Union Man, before Unite’s former general secretary Len McCluskey took to the stage alongside Mr Corbyn. From the stage, Mr McCluskey attempted to defuse the tension by jokingly shouting: “Saboteurs! MI5!” The quip drew nervous laughter from supporters.
Four people attempted to disrupt the event, each claiming Mr Corbyn is not “anti-Zionist”, with one heard shouting “why am I being ejected?” as he was manhandled out of the room.
Even before the doors opened, the fractures were visible outside. In the queue, activists from the hard-left Revolutionary Communist Group handed out leaflets attacking Mr Corbyn for “not being anti-Zionist enough” and accusing him of “pushing Zarah Sultana out of the party”.
One member told the Express that the movement was “fundamentally split”, insisting: “This isn’t a childish dispute, it’s existential.” Another went further, incredibly branding Mr Corbyn, long the hero of the hard Left, as now being “on the right”.
The claims come amid growing signs of open warfare between the party’s two founders.
Launched earlier this year by Mr Corbyn and former Labour MP Ms Sultana, the movement has suffered a chaotic birth marked by bitter infighting, resignations and organisational shambles.
Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed quit, citing a “toxic” culture. The launch was mired in drama after Ms Sultana unveiled the party without Mr Corbyn’s knowledge, blindsiding her co-founder and sparking weeks of vicious rows.
Mr Corbyn did not attend Ms Sultana’s own pre-conference rally held just around the corner, fuelling talk of a widening rift at the top before the conference had even started.
This weekend, thousands of members will descend on Liverpool to decide the party’s name, platform and internal rulebook. Members will choose from four options: Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance, and For the Many.
