What's the MAIN DANGER facing a new party of the left?

One political tendency may suffocate all the others. Read how and why inside.

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A note of explanation: We prefer to cover a wide range of issues in THE LEFT LANE. We are fully conscious, however, that four of our last six issues have focused on the “new left party” and the one before that, encouraged Zarah Sultana to quit Labour and join the “new left party” movement. Yet we consider how and when this question is going to be resolved will have important political consequences for progressives. So we push on today with several other pieces on the same question.

To clear up one matter – well, sort of clear it up - we have been reporting, based on documents we've seen, that 22 July was supposed to be the date when Jeremy Corbyn would announce the new party. But over the weekend we asked an insider about the date of 22 July and he replied: “I’m not sure it was ever on.” 22 December 2025 anyone?

The main danger facing the proposed new left party.

By Alan Story

Evidence is starting to mount focusing on the main danger likely stalking the proposed and long-deferred launch of a new party of the left.

Unless changes are made rapidly and thoroughly, this proposed party will be totally dominated by a single organisational and ideological tendency: ex-Labourites rallied behind an ex-Labour leader who will be eighty at the time of a 2029 election. (Please don’t call me “ageist;” I am older than Corbyn.)

Across Europe by comparison, when new parties of the left have been created over the past three or four decades, they have often been the result of the merger over time of least two - and sometimes more - political organisations representing differing political ideologies. This was true in Germany with Die Linke and The Left Alliance in Finland, to take two examples. Sometimes in European countries using proportional representation voting, parties of different stripes have merged as equals as a result of a particular election result.

In France, the very successful new Popular Front which did so well in that country’s 2024 elections brought together more than ten parties under a common electoral platform. Not only did the Front stop Le Pen’s far right National Rally from claiming victory, it “received the largest number of seats in the 2024 legislative elections, gaining a relative majority in the National Assembly with 182 members elected.

No merger of progressive forces likely.

This is definitely NOT the path chosen by what, to be accurate and honest, should be called “Corbyn’s new party” (as opinion polls do). The new party’s highly secretive and self-selective “Organising Group”, which seems to have supplanted “Collective” as the driving force, is totally dominated by former party insiders at all levels inside Labour. The first and seemingly only criteria for membership is being a Corbynista. There will be no merger or an exercise in reaching out, except on terms dictated by the new party’s leadership. Rather, it would be a mere consolidation under a new name. Labour 2.0 is a likely moniker.

This is totally the wrong way to build a party of the left. Rather than reaching out and building, over time, a radical voice for the increasingly sizeable community of politically voiceless progressives, Corbyn’s new party seems to have two aims: 1) to create a split in Starmer’s party; 2) to bring back under one roof the Corbyn brand of 2015 to 2019 when he became the accidental leader of Labour.

In fact, the current party build process is drenched in sentimentality and individualised game playing. The recent dust-up between different factions of this organising group - embarrassingly covered in detail in The Sunday Times on 6 July - was said to be the result of “a lack of respect” for Corbyn (and his wife!!) according to WhatsApp messages from the head of Corbyn’s own Peace and Justice project. (“Jeremy has thrown his toys out of the pram,” said another WA message. Do we really need more of such Coronation Street-style antics from people who claim to be leading our movement? Lots of us want to fight capitalism and repression and build stronger support for the Palestinian people, not massage egos or promote heroes. In any event, I am sure Corbyn will get over it.)

THE LEFT LANE won't shed any tears at the first possibility, namely a split in Labour. Yet it is rather telling that only a single MP, independent Zarah Sultana, has so far jumped aboard the Corbyn express with their former leader. They have a more balanced view of him than the starry-eyed among us.

But the socialist movement stretches far far beyond the Corbyn’s brand. It includes radical trade unionists, ecosocialists, both Marxist and non-Marxist socialists, “independent socialists” of many stripes, anti-racist and pro-Palestine organisers, disabled rights activists, socialist revolutionaries, and many others. Over more than ten months, the organising committee for Corbyn's new party – IF it happens - has shown not a whit of interest of bringing these groups under the tent or allowing them any political indepence.

Corbyn’s mate McCluskey is hardly a radical.

Take the question of recruiting radical trade unionists. They are indeed badly needed. But the only well-known trade unionist connected with the organising group is former unite general secretary Len McCluskey, a pal of Corbyn, and romantic partner of Karie Murphy. She used to run Corbyn’s office, directs Collective, and, as the reprinted WA messages in The Sunday Times revealed, was hard at work 11 days ago expelling opponents from an internal pre-party WA group. McCluskey is hardly a radical. Murphy is just an old-style political fixer.

So what is the evidence this group aims to suffocate what they consider “outsiders” and others not already in the Corbyn tent? Here are three examples:

The first is the example of the leaks to The Sunday Times by the new left party organisers. Below is a copy of an email THE LEFT LANE sent to both Corbyn and Sultana on 13 July asking that they investigate this matter.

The whole episode smacks of old-style politics. If this type of uncomradely behaviour gains purchase as an acceptable way to function in this party, it will both create an ethos of backstabbing, which will surely sink it as an alternative voice, and be a complete turn off activists who might want to join it. Principled dissidents will be marginalised.

A second example is the leaflet BELOW recently handed out by the Liverpool Community Independents (LCI), a registered local party and a leading voice in the new party organising group.

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Leafled distributed by Liverpool Community Independents

One of the main themes in the new party’s tactical arsenal – if we can call it that – is that the main way to build radical change is to run candidates as councillors in local elections. A discussion of whether this is a correct tactic will have to it wait for a full article. Quite how winning a few seats or even taking over a local council in one of the most centralised countries in the world leads to socialism is a question for another day.

But for now, let's also conclude that you don't build a serious anti-capitalist resistance movement by providing more skips in the community or and by organising litter picks which are highlighted in the LCI’s “local record.” It is simply mindless reformism and does nothing significant to change the balance of class forces, in Liverpool or in any town or city.

Again, it promotes an ideology that could easily become a defining marker of what this new party is all about. Those who think differently will probably be derided as splitters and dangerous radicals and told “that’s NOT the way we do things (in this new party.)”

A third example can be found in the article BELOW written by Jamie Driscoll of Newcastle, also a leading figure in the new party group. Have a read of Driscoll’s article.

Filled with meaningless clichés

THE LEFT LANE fundamentally disagrees with the politics it represents. It is filled with meaningless clichés such as we need a “new kind of politics” and focuses almost exclusively on how to win elections. The word socialism is never even mentioned and the article is theoretically vacuous.

Perhaps this style of politics will be welcomed in this new party, but it will serve as marker to keep out those who think capitalism needs open heart surgery, not an aspirin or a mere sticking plaster that Driscoll’s MAJORITY party advocates.

As Edmund Griffith explain in his article referenced below, the politics of this new left party are, pure and simple, the politics of Labourism. They are the politics its organisers have lived and preached for decades. Unless changes are made rapidly, it will ossify and die and it will very soon become no more able to be reformed than the Labour Party is itself.

A moment will have been lost and the mostly informal movement for a new party will have been squelched. It may soon be time for progressives to ask: what’s next?

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Prompt investigation of pre-party leaks needed.

Independent MPs Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn.

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From: The Left Lane <theleftlanepolitics@gmail.com>

To: jeremy.corbyn.mp, zarah.sultana.mp,

Email of 10:52 a.m. 13 July

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TO: MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana

RE: The need for an investigation into leaks to the Murdoch press.

As the two MPs leading the effort to create a desperately needed new party of the left, I request that you launch a prompt investigation into the recent leaking of pre-party documents to The Sunday Times.

Besides being a political embarrassment, the leaking of the internal secret documents and WhatsApp messages by the leaders and organisers of our new party was obviously motivated by an attempt by one faction to undermine another faction.

Such tactics have no place in the difficult struggle to create a new party. They undermine trust among colleagues. They encourage backstabbing among rank-and-file members of this proposed party who may well conclude that, if party leaders can act this way, so can they. Moreover, they turn off potential recruits you are already turned off enough by the current political culture in our country. Open and democratic functioning must be a trump card of our new party.

So you so can you immediately launch a thorough investigation of this leaking and ensure that none of “your people” on the central organising team played any role in this sectarian stunt. If they did, I know I speak on behalf of a number of socialists in suggesting they should be sacked from any future role in the organising campaign.

Alan Story THE LEFT LANE substack

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“We need to replace our broken system with grassroots democracy. A new left party will help.”

Jamie Driscoll, leader of one of the politial parties behind the effort to create a new party of the left. From 2019 to 2024, he was the Labour metro mayor for the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

By Jamie Driscoll, leader of MAJORITY.

REPRINTED from CANARY ( HERE) on 10 July

Time for a new left party, yay! The end of Starmer! The rout of Reform! Replacement of neoliberalism! A new unicorn in every garage! Yeah, maybe keep the champagne on ice just now.

What Zarah and Jeremy announced last week was the starting of the foundation of a new party. If you’re up for it, roll up your sleeves. It’s not called the workers’ movement for nothing.

Note Zarah’s wording. They “will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country”. That tells you two things.

One, it’s not yet ready for launch. You can’t just order a new party off the internet on next day delivery.

And two, this will not be a two-person show. We need layers of leaders at every level. Anyone who has worked for a living will recognise that talent exists at all levels. Just because someone is in a senior position to you it doesn’t mean that they’re more competent. Just look at the quality of prime ministers we’ve had.

So how do we build a mass movement with leaders at every level? That quite clearly is not Jeremy and Zarah’s job. It’s yours. At least it is if you believe in democracy.

And if we want to win in next May’s elections in England, Scotland, and Wales, we must start now, and not wait for saviours to, well, save us.

Democracy is an active process. It is the opposite of sitting back and complaining. It means stepping up and shaping. Like we do in Majority.

We founded last September in Newcastle, and members elected me as leader. We have members from Belfast to London, Aberdeen to the South Coast, from the Welsh Valleys to the Durham Coalfields. We are not based in the Westminster bubble. We’re a movement that allows you to be a member of a party too. We have members who are in the Greens, the Labour left (who keep it quiet!), smaller left parties, and even a couple of Lib Dems. By organising progressive alliances we increase our chances of winning.

We are called Majority because we represent the majority. Public ownership of utilities, a tax on assets over £10m, supporting disabled people, stopping the world’s climate from collapsing, and not engaging in genocide are all, in fact, pretty popular. Typically 65% to 80% of people like those policies. Take out the “don’t knows”, and it’s an even higher percentage.

Yet British politics is captured by lobbyists, special interest groups, and the revolving door between Westminster and corporate boardrooms.

It has to be a new kind of politics.

That’s why this can’t be just a new party. It has to be a new kind of politics. I’ve been working with Jeremy, Zarah, and others to bring a broad base together. As he said, this will grow from a coalition of independents and progressives. So join us now, and be front of the queue. Democracy is messy, it takes time. But in the grand scheme of things, where nothing seems to change, this is happening at speed.

In May next year every city has council elections, Wales has Senedd elections, and Scotland has Scottish Parliamentary elections. Reform UK think they’re nailed on. I say we can stop them. The More in Common poll that put a new left party at 10% was based on a hypothetical. But if we have won control of a major city, it becomes real. People believe. That majority of people who support our policies and values stop thinking it’s a pipe dream. If we win, they start voting for us.

In Newcastle in the 2024 Mayoral election, I got 25,000 votes compared to Labour’s 26,000. No one thinks Labour can win now.

We’ve been building since then. We’re stronger on the ground. We have better software and better data. We’ve run huge assemblies to shape our manifestos. With food poverty campaigners, transport user groups, disability rights and anti-racists, trade unionists and Palestinian solidarity groups. Their front-line experience brings a concrete reality to what’s needed. That authenticity resonates with the public.

When I was Mayor, we built eco-homes, created thousands of jobs on trade union terms and conditions, and recycled millions of pounds with community wealth building. We proved socialists are not just nice people. We are capable of running the country well. A radical programme of community wealth building can transform lives.

We leaflet at Metro stations. We run online training courses. We’re building from the ground up. Wherever you are, so long as you have an internet connection, you can play a part and help replace our broken politics with grassroots democracy.

As I said on Novara, the establishment have their billionaire newspapers and GB News. The 99% have mass movements. While you’re waiting for the new party, join Majority.

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THE LEFT LANE requested an email address for the new party, but Driscoll said none was available at this time.

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FOR FUTHER READING…

In the last week at least five serious commentaries on the new party question have come out. We think you will find them all valuable.

1) In the previous issue of THE LEFT LANE, we reprinted “Just launch the thing!” by Harry Holmes. Read it HERE.

2) Edmund Griffith has written a piece called “New Left Party: the mountains are in Labour.” Read it HERE.

3) Max Shanly has put together an article called “Towards a New Model Left Party: The Case for a British DSA.” Read it HERE.

4) In the journal Prometheus, Archie Woodrow has written a piece titled “ Leaders Who Don’t Lead”. Read it HERE.

5) Finally, the Weekly Worker published a piece by its columnist Carla Roberts called “ Still waiting for Jeremy.” Read it HERE.

Next week in THE LEFT LANE we will hold a trivial pursuit contest based on the contents of the five articles above . LOL!

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A WALL OF MEMES

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Get your placard ready: Netanyhu’s pal Trump comes to the UK from 17-19 September.

I do wish the British left would break from Londoncentrism. Ten marches all over the UK would be far more effective and far cheaper.

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We are going to be seeing a lot more posters like this in coming weeks.

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Edited by Alan Story, THE LEFT LANE is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber: http://theleftlane2024.substack.com/subscribe

You can reach us at: theleftlanepolitics@gmail.com

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