Political situation in the UK

Jeremy Corbyn opens up about starting a new party

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is considering creating a new party to challenge his old one on the left wing. The Guardian reports.

The party would focus on poverty, equality and a foreign policy that is “based on peace rather than war”.

Corbyn was suspended from Labour by party leader Keir Starmer in 2020, and has in the past year entered into a more informal alliance with MPs on the left but outside Labour.

According to The Guardian, a new party on the left wing could pose a headache for Starmer, who has moved Labour towards the political centre. 

Labour has lost ten percentage points – in a year

Labour has lost over ten percentage points in public opinion since the 2024 election, The Independent reports.

The government party is getting around 24 percent in a new Ipsos poll, which is one of the strongest races ever in British politics. Party leader Keir Starmer's personal confidence figures are the lowest for a prime minister with a year in the job since the polls began.

If there is any consolation for Labour, it is perhaps that their loss has not – as usual – meant growth for arch-rivals the Tories. They have also lost, and in the new poll they receive 18 percent support.

Right-wing populist Reform UK gets 29 percent, making it the largest party.

Jeremy Corbyn starts new British left-wing party

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has started a new left-wing party together with MP Zarah Sultana, reports The Telegraph.

The formation of the party is described as a severe blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour. The new party is likely to be more progressive than Labour and could steal votes from them.

Corbyn has made himself known as a progressive left-wing politician, not least in the run-up to Britain's exit from the EU, which he was a vocal opponent of.

Zarah Sultana is also known for her progressive politics. At the beginning of the mandate, she was expelled from Labour after voting against the party line when the party wanted to introduce a contribution cap. Until now, she has been a political savage in parliament.