Jeremy Corbyn confirms he wants to lead new left-wing ‘Your Party’ | Politics | News
Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he hopes to become leader of “Your Party”, the left-wing party that will be officially launched this weekend – but only temporarily. He did not comment on the suggestion that he could co-lead former Labor MP Zarah Sultana, who said she hoped to lead the new initiative with him. But in response to the chaos and divisions surrounding the founding of the party, which does not yet have an official name, he said: “Of course, I apologize for any wrongdoing on my part.”
Mr Corbyn also joked that he might write a book on how to form a new party, which will be formally launched at a conference in Liverpool on Saturday. He said he was “surprised” by claims by Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, who served in the shadow cabinet when Mr Corbyn was Labor leader, that the pair were friends.
Inside Interview with the New StatesmanMr Corbyn said: “I want us to form a leadership team with the election of a committee. And if people want me to be leader or someone else to be leader, then that is the democratic choice to make.”
“I’m very much prepared to do this job, it’s not unlimited time. I want to see it start. I want to see it continue. My aim is to mobilize this party and ensure the principle that this space is occupied by radical voices, so that we don’t have policies decided on by the government on the basis of what the Reform has said on immigration, to rival what the Conservatives have said on immigration, for example. I want to see something better.”
Asked directly if this meant he would stand up, he said: “I’m around, I’m around, I’m here.”
Referring to the disagreements within the party, which include a reported split between him and Ms Sultana, he said in a message to supporters: “I’m sorry if you are at all disappointed. I hope however your wish and your determination to have a democratic serious left voice that will challenge Reform, that will challenge austerity, challenge the Tories and so on will be there.”
“And we are socialists. We believe in a socially just and equal society. It will never be an easy road, but if we work with each other, educate each other, and above all inspire a younger generation to come along, we can achieve things. And of course I apologize for any offense on my part, but I want this thing to work.”
In a light-hearted comment, Mr Corbyn said: “Well, there’s no handbook on how to start a political party and once this is over I might write one.”
He added: “And how to do that sounds great and simple and straightforward, but you realize that you actually start with a completely blank sheet of paper and you need to fill it with something that will emerge with a coherent party that is also democratic, inclusive and accountable.”
“It’s been quite difficult. But look at it more positively. We have 54,55,000 people who are fully paying their wages, and this number is increasing day by day.”
He expressed admiration for Sir Keir, although he condemned the current Labor government for having “no apparent sense of direction or purpose”.
Mr Corbyn praised Sir Keir’s eye for detail and added: “Have we always been on the same page? No, but I wouldn’t say we had a – a close relationship. I was really surprised when he revealed that I was one of his best friends. I never thought it would happen and I think he gave up on that after a while. And I haven’t really had anything to do with him for four years.”
