Over a thousand people packed into a venue in Blackburn for the inaugural official meeting of "Your Party," a new political movement spearheaded by independent MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. Aimed at building a diverse, working-class coalition to challenge the traditional political establishment, the event drew significant crowds from across the North West.
Chaired by Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain, the high-profile gathering combined a heavy focus on domestic socioeconomic struggles with vocal solidarity for Palestine. While the event showcased considerable grassroots energy, it also highlighted lingering tensions surrounding leadership, foreign policy, and the ongoing debate over Zionism and anti-Semitism that has followed figures like Corbyn since his time leading the Labour Party.
The meeting marked the official debut of Your Party in the North West of England. Opening the proceedings, Adnan Hussain shared personal reflections on his parents’ migration to Britain and how their working-class struggles shaped his political outlook. He framed Your Party as a necessary alternative designed to give a voice to ordinary citizens who feel left behind, ignored, or disillusioned by the two major mainstream political parties.
"Today, as I’ve said, I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing Blackburn, Lancashire, the North West, to a new political movement," Hussain told the enthusiastic audience. He continued, emphasizing the movement’s core demographic focus: "It stands, as I’ve already said, not for the elite, not for the wealthy, but for you, the working class."
Hussain stressed that the newly formed party is built firmly on principles rather than centering solely on personalities. However, he drew some of the loudest applause of the afternoon when he posed a visionary scenario to the crowd: "Imagine a United Kingdom with Jeremy Corbyn as the Prime Minister." He quickly contextualized the remark, adding, "It’s not about the individual. It’s about his vision. It’s about what he stands for. It’s about what he is bringing to the table."
The event also featured contributions from other aligned independent figures, including Birmingham MP Ayoub Khan, who praised the remarkable turnout and the demographic breadth of the audience. "Nothing frightens politicians more than seeing a movement that is as large and as diverse as this one, Your Party," Khan declared to attendees.
Organisers and speakers repeatedly drew attention to the makeup of the crowd, emphasizing that the majority of attendees were non-Muslim, spanning a wide range of ages, genders, and faith backgrounds. "Look around you, this is the UK," speakers told the audience, positioning the gathering as a broad-based cross-section of modern British society rather than a niche sectarian project.
Among the guest speakers was Professor Marion Roberts, representing Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), who addressed the complex and sensitive issues surrounding anti-Semitism, Zionism, and political controversies from Corbyn’s tenure leading the Labour Party.
"Members of the bloc have and will have different electoral and political allegiances," Roberts told the audience. She went on to explain the origins and purpose of her organisation: "The group I belong to, JVL, was set up to support Jeremy once he became leader and to counter the false accusations of antisemitism which were intended to protect Israel from criticism."
As Jeremy Corbyn finally took to the stage, the atmosphere intensified. Chants of "Free Palestine" echoed through the hall from sections of the crowd, reflecting how the Middle East conflict remained a central and emotional theme throughout the afternoon. Some slogans later escalated to "Death, death to the IDF" from portions of the audience, illustrating the raw and polarizing nature of foreign policy sentiments among attendees.
In his keynote address, Corbyn pivoted seamlessly between domestic crises and global geopolitics. He addressed pressing domestic struggles faced by working-class communities across Britain, including the worsening housing crisis, rising poverty, homelessness, and the burden of university tuition fees. He then explicitly linked these domestic challenges to Britain’s historical and contemporary role in foreign wars and widening global inequality.
Turning to the situation in the Middle East, Corbyn delivered a sharp critique of Israeli policy. "We are always coming up against the Israeli expansionism led by the Zionist ideology, that they have a right to occupy Gaza and the West Bank," he declared to sustained applause.
Outlining the overarching ethos of the new movement, Corbyn emphasized the need for a democratic structure rooted in local communities. "We want this party to be open. We want it to be inclusive. We want it to be democratic and above all community and grassroots-based," he said.
Your Party’s Stance on Anti-Zionism
The Blackburn conference took place against a backdrop of intense public scrutiny regarding the political movement’s precise stance on Zionism. Just days prior to the event, video footage circulated widely showing Jeremy Corbyn repeatedly refusing to answer direct questions from reporters about whether he personally considers himself anti-Zionist. This public hesitation stands in contrast to fellow co-founder Zarah Sultana, who has previously and openly declared herself to be anti-Zionist.
Despite the heavy, controversial political subjects raised during the speeches, organisers did not hold a public question-and-answer session at the end of the conference. This decision disappointed several critics and observers in attendance, who noted that bypassing an open floor prevented a more rigorous and transparent public debate on difficult topics.
At the conclusion of the event, reporters approached Adnan Hussain to ask whether members of Your Party would face scrutiny or internal disciplinary measures regarding their personal positions on Zionism and Israel.
Hussain firmly rejected the idea of penalizing members for speaking out against military actions in the region. "Nobody should be penalised against a genocide, the killing of innocent children," he responded. "They must be protected and anyone who is opposed to that must never be penalised."
While the Blackburn conference successfully demonstrated significant grassroots enthusiasm, energy, and a willingness to challenge the political status quo, it also underscored lingering questions. As Your Party takes its first steps onto the national stage, it faces ongoing tensions regarding clear definitions on Zionism, the dynamics of its leadership, and whether it can ultimately carve out a distinct and viable electoral identity separate from the Labour Party.