The campaign group, Compass, is holding an online conversation to discuss the new left party being set up by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Labour MP Zarah Sultana.
The organisation, reported to be called Your Party, is a reflection of the dramatic fragmentation in British politics, according to Compass, and a symptom of the “increasingly autocratic fashion” in which Labour is run currently by “a tiny but powerful right faction”.
The online discussion on Tuesday 6 July features Compass director Neal Lawson, economist James Meadway and campaigner Laura Parker, formerly national coordinator of Momentum and Corbyn’s former private secretary.
“Together, we will delve into the prospects for a new left party and explore some tricky questions,” explained Lawson in a message to supporters.
“How will this new political project work with other progressives? Will Your Party learn lessons from Corbyn’s leadership of Labour? Will they continue the fight for Proportional Representation?
“In these extraordinary times, we need to foster discussion, debate and thoughtful analysis – the heart of a pluralist and democratic future.”
In an online statement about Your Party, Compass says: “Our critique of Corbyn’s leadership of Labour was that it was neither sufficiently pluralist nor professional. Jeremy was a figurehead who inspired and inspires many, but he was a poor party leader. So the genuine question is: what will make this venture different?”
It adds: “What we know is that the history of left defeats is littered with shortcuts. Now is the time to dig deep organisationally and culturally to construct a very new left politics, especially when it comes to leadership.
Meanwhile, come what may, there will be a Labour government for the next four years. The job at hand for progressives is … to build influence and power so that wherever possible we can help them and, if necessary, make Labour do the right thing – and stop them from doing the wrong thing.”
You can register for the discussion here.
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