UK's Jeremy Corbyn hints at leftist rival to Labour Party
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Jeremy Corbyn is in talks with fellow independents to create a new party that challenges Labour’s direction and centers on pro-Palestine and socialist values.
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From left to right, Jeremy Corbyn, Nadia Sawalha, Selma Dabbagh, Juliet Stevenson, Max Porter, Aiyisha Hart, Andy McDonald, and Esther Manito hold placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, outside the gates of Downing Street, in London, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP)
The ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has hinted at the creation of a new political party ahead of the UK’s general election, potentially forming a left-wing alternative to the Labour Party with other independent MPs.
In an interview for ITV, Corbyn, who currently serves as an independent MP for Islington North, confirmed that discussions are ongoing among members of the Independent Alliance, a group he co-founded in 2023. When asked directly about launching a party, Corbyn replied, “That grouping [of independents] will come together, there will be an alternative.”
The Independent Alliance comprises five MPs: Corbyn, Shockat Adam (Leicester South), Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr), Adnan Hussain (Blackburn), and Iqbal Mohamed (Dewsbury and Batley). All four of Corbyn’s allies won recent by-elections on platforms strongly critical of Labour’s stance on Gaza, championing pro-Palestine positions and pledging to restore traditional socialist values.
With five seats, the alliance now equals Reform UK and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in size, surpassing the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, each of which holds four seats.
Political project grounded in peace, social justice
Corbyn, who was suspended from Labour in 2020 under Keir Starmer’s leadership, has increasingly positioned himself as a voice for disenfranchised voters on the left. He has consistently advocated for anti-poverty measures, wealth redistribution, and a foreign policy rooted in peace and international solidarity, particularly with Palestine.
Asked if he would personally lead the potential new party, Corbyn remained vague but reaffirmed his long-standing political mission, “I’m here to work – I’m here to serve the people in the way I’ve always tried to do.”
The possible emergence of a new political movement, analysts say, could reshape the dynamics of the upcoming election.
A Corbyn-led initiative with grassroots support might fragment the left-of-center vote, potentially drawing votes away from Labour as Starmer continues to reposition the party closer to the political center.
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