Labour Loses First Councillor to Corbyn-Sultana Ultra-Left Party

Grace Lewis, a 22-year-old councillor for Coventry City Council, became the first Labour politician to defect to the new left-wing political party founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, known temporarily as 'Your Party.' Lewis resigned from Labour citing dissatisfaction with the party's austerity measures, including cuts to disability support, the retention of the two-child benefit cap, and reductions in winter fuel payments, which she said have driven many into poverty. She criticized Labour for aligning with policies targeting minorities and for its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, accusing the party of arming Israel and criminalizing peaceful protesters. The new party, which has attracted over 600,000 sign-ups to its mailing list within its first week, aims to offer a more radical left-wing alternative to Labour and has already gained support from other former Labour and independent councillors. Both Corbyn and Sultana, who now sit as independent MPs, are positioning the party to the left of Labour on tax, welfare, and foreign policy issues. The founding conference for the party is anticipated in November, signaling a potential reshaping of the UK's left-wing political landscape.