YourParty: Grassroots Democracy over Bureaucratic Splits

A statement from Talking About Socialism…from a Marxist point of view

Your Party is in great danger of falling at the first hurdle. The huge initial support for a new left party is under threat of being squandered entirely. This is not solely the fault of any one faction or individual, but something deeper. The secretive, undemocratic process of setting up the party adopted so far has failed. The announcement by Zarah Sultana yesterday evening that a process of reconciliation is ongoing between the two leadership factions does not alter this fact.

The lack of transparency and democracy, reflecting a desire to keep control in the hands of those at the top, and a profound distrust of the putative membership, have predictably led us to this point. We do not know precisely who is involved, who is making decisions, who is advising whom, or who is in control of the data and the money. We only learn in dribs and drabs.

Before the new party is even formally formed we have seen a factional battle between rival teams at the top, in which neither side can be supported. It has been an unneccessary and embarrassing distraction from addressing the many pressing issues that confront us, such as austerity, genocide and the resurgence of the far-right.

Zarah Sultana, Jeremy Corbyn, and those behind the scenes who have sided with them, cannot be trusted to found this party on a truly democratic basis. Their behaviour has been completely irresponsible. Democracy, openness and an approach that empowers the activity of the grassroots is necessary.

It is impossible to know everything that has transpired because we are kept in the dark, treated like children. How can we fully judge the rumours and half-truths that emerge from rival sides without knowing the substance? What is clear, however, is that the dithering and delay in launching membership has sapped momentum and morale. To their credit, supporters have taken the initiative in setting up proto-branches.

The only people in Your Party who have come out of this crisis with any credit are the prospective YourParty membership. There is a widespread determination not to allow the irresponsible and destructive behaviour of the leadership over the last few days to wreck the launching of the party.

A fundamental change in the approach to founding this new party is required. Having a pre-party leadership whose members do not name themselves, whose decisions are suddenly declared after weeks of silence and who are consumed by petty squabbling is untenable. Everyone involved in organising this party in any way should be known. They must be accountable. Their meetings’ minutes must be published.

The current crisis raises fundamental questions about the existing roadmap to the founding conference of the party. How can a leadership at war with itself organise a conference in under two months’ time, create founding documents to be offered for amendment, or create branches across the country?

All of these issues suggest that this process should not be rushed. Instead, we should take time to fight for the party to be set up on a genuinely democratic basis. Those who argue that delay would kill the party’s momentum need only look at the damage that has already been done by the leadership’s current approach. We need time for the membership and branches to be formed so that the founding conference can be truly representative.

There are many problems with the current ‘road map’, including that only those at the top will be able to make proposals, with an unworkable consultation process; that delegates to conference would be chosen by lottery, and that only they would be able to propose amendments; that the final ratification would be by online referendum of all members; and that the proposed regional events are only deliberative.

Membership must be launched immediately, with a clear endorsement of that step by both Corbyn and Sultana, along with a clear statement about where the money and data is to be held and by whom.

Local branches of paid-up members must be created. Every member will be allocated to a branch. We suggest that these should normally be constituency-based but this can be open for further resolution.

Every branch should be entitled to send one delegate to an interim national leadership body to meet as frequently as neccessary to decide on practical steps and political initiatives to be taken until a new leadership structure is elected at a conference.

This branch-delegate body should elect a conference arrangements committee to organise a delegate-based conference in the new year – February or March 2026. This would give time to build the membership, establish the branches and organise the conference. On this basis, a conference based upon elected branch delegates meeting in person, with provision for online access for those unable to attend, becomes possible.

There is a substantial movement around YourParty that cannot be left to dwindle or sink into demoralisation. With a new, member-based leadership that is accountable and recallable at every level, and a new, completely democratic process to found the party, we can find our own solutions. Only with open debate about policy and structure, with the coordination and sharing of ideas and actions across the membership, will we turn this movement into the mass, democratic, socialist party we need.

The fight for socialism and democracy in YourParty is not over!