Corbyn and Sultana at odds over Your Party leadership as conference opens

"The two most prominent figures in Your Party are still divided over how it should be run as its inaugural conference kicked off this weekend. Jeremy Corbyn confirmed to journalists on Saturday that he preferred a single leader and is likely to stand for the role but Zarah Sultana, his co-founder, said she would vote for collective leadership and that she does not believe parties should be run by sole personalities."

"Delegates in Liverpool will choose between electing a single leader or a collective of lay members those not already serving as MPs or councillors to run the fledgling leftwing movement. The party has been beset by infighting since plans for it were first announced in July after Sultana announced her defection from Labour, saying she and Corbyn would co-lead a new political organisation. Allies of Corbyn were quick to brief that a final decision had not been made."

"Sultana said she supported collective leadership in the absence of the option for two co-leaders. She said: I've publicly supported a co-leadership model. The fact it hasn't been given to members as an option to vote on is regrettable, and the fact that has been decided by a faceless, nameless bureaucrat is quite concerning. She said she was championing collective leadership because she felt it offered maximum member democracy. I don't think movements should be led by sole personalities."

An inaugural conference has highlighted a leadership split in Your Party between Jeremy Corbyn, who prefers a single leader and may stand, and co-founder Zarah Sultana, who supports collective leadership. Delegates in Liverpool must choose between electing one leader or a collective of lay members not currently serving as MPs or councillors. The party has experienced infighting since July after Sultana defected from Labour and initially announced a co-lead arrangement with Corbyn. Corbyn says he will serve in whatever capacity members choose. Sultana argues collective leadership increases member democracy, shares responsibility, and avoids dominance by sole personalities.

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