Suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana has resigned from the party after more than a decade, announcing plans to co-lead a new political movement with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The Coventry South MP, who was suspended last year for defying the government whip on welfare cuts, confirmed her departure on Thursday evening. In a strongly-worded statement, she declared “Westminster is broken” and launched attacks on both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Sultana revealed she would join Corbyn and other independent MPs in establishing a new party aimed at challenging what she called the “two-party system” that offers “nothing but managed decline and broken promises.
Scathing Attack on Labour
The 31-year-old MP’s resignation letter contained a series of criticisms directed at her former party and the political establishment. She accused the government of wanting to “make disabled people suffer” and labeled Farage a “billionaire-backed grifter.
Today, after 14 years, I’m resigning from the Labour Party,” Sultana wrote. Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country.”
The resignation marks a significant moment for the Labour left, with Sultana having served as chair of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs from 2020 until recently stepping down from that position. She had been a party member since 2011, joining as a student protesting against tuition fee increases.
Wealth Inequality Focus
Sultana’s statement highlighted economic inequality as a central motivation for the new party’s formation. She noted that “just 50 families now own more wealth than half the UK population” while “poverty is growing” and “inequality is obscene.”
The MP, who was first elected in 2019 with a majority of just 401 votes, significantly increased her majority to over 10,000 at the 2024 general election. This electoral success came despite losing the Labour whip months before the poll.
Her suspension from the Parliamentary Labour Party occurred in July 2024 when she was among seven MPs who voted against the government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Four of those MPs have since had the whip restored, but Sultana, along with John McDonnell and Apsana Begum, remains outside the parliamentary party.
Defending Her Record
In her resignation letter, Sultana defended her voting record against government policy, stating she would repeat her rebellions if given the chance. She specifically cited her votes against the two-child benefit cap and the scrapping of Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners.
A year ago, I was suspended by the Labour Party for voting to abolish the two-child benefit cap and lift 400,000 children out of poverty. I’d do it again,” she declared. “I voted against scrapping Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners. I’d do it again.”
The MP also referenced the government’s stance on disability benefits and took aim at Labour’s failure to improve living standards, which she claimed had allowed Farage to lead in opinion polls.
Gaza Conflict Central
Sultana’s statement made clear that the conflict in Gaza remains a key dividing line between her and the Labour leadership. She accused the political establishment, “from Farage to Starmer,” of smearing “people of conscience trying to stop a genocide in Gaza as terrorists.
The reference appears to relate to the government’s plans regarding the proscription of Palestine Action, a campaign group that has targeted companies it claims are complicit in Israeli military operations. Sultana has been a vocal critic of UK arms exports to Israel throughout the current conflict.
During her time as an independent MP, she has developed a significant media presence commenting on the situation in Gaza and has consistently called for stronger action from the UK government.
Building Alternative Movement
The announcement confirms months of speculation about efforts to establish a new left-wing party. Corbyn, who has represented Islington North as an independent since losing the Labour whip in 2020, has been touring the country building support for an alternative political movement.
At a recent rally in Liverpool, Corbyn told supporters: “I am determined there will be, in a short time, a strong alternative democratic socialist, left-wing voice that brings people together.” The former Labour leader has been working with various groups to lay the groundwork for the new party.
Recent polling by More in Common suggested a Corbyn-led party could secure around 10 percent of the vote nationally, primarily drawing support from Labour and Green Party voters. Such a development could significantly impact Labour’s electoral prospects in key constituencies.
Parliamentary Alliance
The new party is expected to build on the existing Independent Alliance in Parliament, which includes Corbyn and four pro-Gaza independent MPs elected in 2024. These MPs defeated Labour candidates by campaigning on issues including the conflict in Gaza and local concerns.
Sultana’s involvement brings significant advantages to the nascent movement. At 31, she represents a generational shift from Corbyn, who is 75, and brings substantial social media reach with over 315,000 followers on TikTok – the highest of any MP.
The timing of the announcement, with local elections scheduled for May 2025, suggests the new party will seek to contest seats across the country within months. This could pose particular challenges for Labour in areas with significant Muslim populations or strong left-wing traditions.
Labour’s Response Awaited
The resignation removes any lingering possibility of Sultana’s readmission to the Parliamentary Labour Party. As recently as January 2025, she had indicated she would “absolutely” return to Labour if offered the chance, describing the party as needing to be “a broad church.
However, her statement that Westminster is “broken” and her criticism of the “two-party system” suggests a fundamental break with mainstream politics. The accusation that Labour has “completely failed to improve people’s lives” represents a direct challenge to Starmer’s leadership.
Sultana’s departure leaves Labour defending a parliamentary majority won on what she termed a “sandcastle majority” built on a historically low vote share. Her warning about lost goodwill and poor polling since the election reflects growing concerns about the government’s political strategy.
The formation of a new left-wing party could reshape British politics, particularly if it succeeds in attracting other suspended Labour MPs and building alliances with existing parties like the Greens. For Starmer’s government, it represents another challenge from the left at a time when Reform UK is gaining ground on the right.
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