Zarah Sultana has boycotted the first day of Your Party’s inaugural conference in protest over accusations of a “witch hunt”.
The Coventry South MP co-founded the left-wing splinter party with Jeremy Corbyn in July.
Since its inception, Your Party has been which has been plagued with infighting and any hopes of shoring up unity with its Liverpool conference were quickly dashed.
On the eve of the party gathering, a row exploded over the expulsion of Socialist Workers Party members.
They were removed as Your Party does not permit dual membership.
The move outraged Your Party’s co-founder, with Ms Sultana declaring she would not appear at the conference until her speech on Sunday.
A furious statement from her spokesman read: “Zarah met members outside the conference and condemned the recent expulsions.
“This witch hunt is indefensible.
Your Party co-founder Zarah Sultana is boycotting its conference over ‘witch hunt’ allegations
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“We must build a party that welcomes all socialists. She will not be entering the conference hall today.”
Responding to the claims, Your Party denied any notion of a “purge” of members and said those expelled from the party had broken “clearly stated membership rules”.
“These claims are false,” a spokesman said.
“Members of another national political party signed up to Your Party in contravention of clearly stated membership rules – and these rules were enforced.
Ahead of the conference, Mr Corbyn dodged describing Ms Sultana as a ‘friend’
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“We’re focused on hosting a democratic founding conference with thousands of members coming together to debate and decide the big issues. This is politics outside the Westminster mould: From the ground up, not the top down,” the statement concluded.
Strain among the leadership of Your Party was plain to see when Jeremy Corbyn, ahead of the conference, was asked if he considered Ms Sultana a friend.
The former Labour leader described his co-founder as a “colleague in parliament”.
“We obviously communicate and so on,” he added.
On Saturday, Mr Corbyn addressed avid supporters in a packed-out auditorium just before Ms Sultana’s boycott was announced.
The Islington North MP called for “unity” in the wake of a series of previous embarrassing gaffes and public spats with his co-founder.
“Last night here in Liverpool, we had number of events on and Zarah (Sultana) spoke at a great rally and I very happily and proudly sent a message to that rally – and I was grateful that it was read out to that rally – of support and solidarity,” Mr Corbyn said in his speech.
“I was at a poetry and music event at the Black E, and Zarah sent a message to that.
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana established the party together | PA“As a party, we’ve got to come together and be united because division and disunity will not serve the interests of the people that we want to represent.
“So that’s the basis on which we launch the party now.”
The Independent MP subsequently called to establish a “membership oversight committee” to “steward” the establishment of Your Party groups.
Mr Corbyn said he hoped to see power of the party in the hands of its members “as soon as possible”.
