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At the idea of a fresh leftwing party fronted by the former Labour leader and Zarah Sultana was first mooted in the summer, it attracted huge support that countless individuals showed enthusiasm in becoming members.

Despite being rapidly overwhelmed by internal conflicts – its founders disagreed intensely over its early governance and revenue strategy – many expected this weekend's launch gathering would herald a fresh start.

Disappointing First Day

A significant portion of the 2,500 delegates are people who left the Labour party, unhappy about the agenda of the current government and searching for a new party as they are concerned by the rise of Reform UK.

As plans for the party's inaugural conference were completed, Sultana and Corbyn appeared to resolved their differences. Appearing at a socialist gathering in Manchester last month, Sultana humorously paralleled the pair to the Gallagher brothers, remarking: “Let me assure you the project is moving forward.”

Yet when the doors to the conference centre in Liverpool were unlocked on Saturday morning, Sultana was noticeably absent. As Corbyn gave his introductory speech, she was drinking a warm beverage in a coffee shop about a short distance from the conference site.

Leadership Disagreement

The situation revealed there was little agreement on how the party should be led. Corbyn informed the press he supported a traditional leadership model, with a sole leader voted into power, and implied he’d be prepared to compete if members voted for this approach.

In contrast, in an discussion, Sultana said she was advocating for a shared governance model, with key decisions being decided by lay members – those not presently working as elected officials. She added that she did not think parties should be run by “single leaders”. She did, however, suggest she would be prepared to run opposing Corbyn if there was a election for a individual head.

Negative Atmosphere

While Sultana maintained she and the former Labour leader were on good terms – they had, she said, talked about how they wanted the conference to be “an uplifting and happy event where members feel empowered” – she was sharply negative about certain supporters and Your Party officials whom she feels are briefing against her. She declined to identify individuals, but it is understood that the relationship between her backers and Corbyn’s former chief of staff Karie Murphy are notably strained.

The politician – who abandoned Labour in July – further stated that there was still a “harmful environment” among certain members of Your Party, which had resulted in “harassment, threats and false accusations” and “planned interference”.

Boycott and Group Conflicts

Strains escalated significantly around lunchtime when it was revealed Sultana would boycott the opening day of the conference, in support for prospective attendees who had been turned away from the event due to membership in other leftwing groups – notably the the SWP. Her spokesperson described this as a “political persecution”, stating: “We must build a party that welcomes all socialists.”

Corbyn's associates – who wrongly asserted on Saturday morning that the Socialist Workers party was registered with the election authority – were angry, claiming Sultana was seeking to orchestrate a “distraction”. They believe accepting overlapping memberships would create chaos and heighten group conflicts which already seems to have hampered the fledgling movement.

On the status of the SWP, one supporter of Corbyn said: “Even if it is not registered with the Electoral Commission but it is nonetheless a political group. The clue is in the name.”

Concern Among Attendees

Numerous attendees were frustrated that Saturday’s proceedings descended into internal disputes when they would have preferred to focus on important topics such as the cost of living crisis and immigration, as well as planning for next year’s regional polls.

Your Party is has not determined if it will run its own nominees or support independent socialists and some supporters think the party will have not succeeded if it is not available as a choice as an alternative to Labour.

Expectation for Sunday

The outcome is uncertain if the conference can be salvaged on Sunday, when the outcomes of important ballots – such as the final designation and organizational system – will be declared. Sultana is scheduled to participate and give a speech, which has encouraged those who still hope for unity.

However most delegates remained despondent as they made their way of the meeting space into a rainy Liverpool night on Saturday. It's possible the atmosphere of the day was expressed by a single participant, who said: “My substantial beverage is becoming a full bottle.”