Politics latest: ‘Real change is coming’: Corbyn says ‘discussions are ongoing’ about new left-wing party | Politics News

The new political party with Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn at the helm has taken many in Westminster by surprise, including – it appears – Corbyn himself.    

But his hastily released statement gives clear hints at the discussions that have been taking place around the fledgling movement. 

It seems that it was meant to be a bottom-up, grassroots political force, and Sky News now has a better understanding of who is involved. 

Firstly, there is a Westminster element including the Independent Alliance MPs – the other four of whom were elected last year on a pro-Gaza ticket, unseating Labour MPs.  

And it may also be worth keeping an eye on a handful of (ex) Labour MPs for possible defections (Apsana Begum is yet to say where she stands). 

It also, though, has a significant regional element with ex Labour North of Tyne Mayor, Jamie Driscoll and current Tower Hamlets Mayor, Lutfur Rahman, both part of talks along with independent councillors up and down the country. 

Both were once Labour mayors, with Mr Rahman banned from office for five years for corruption in 2015 and Mr Driscoll blocked from standing again by the party in 2023 by Sir Keir Starmer’s allies.

It seems that the original idea was to let the group grow organically, informally and democratically based on shared ideas, with Jeremy Corbyn as a unifying figure. 

Clearly Sultana has a different approach and Corbyn is happy to be publicly supportive despite being taken off guard, with the rest keeping pretty quiet… for now.