In new threat to UK's Labour, former leader Corbyn in talks to start new party

By Andrew MacAskill

LONDON (Reuters) -The former leader of Britain's Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, announced on Friday he was in talks to start a new political party because Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government had "refused to deliver the change" voters expected during its first year in office.

Corbyn, an avowed socialist who took control of the party in 2015, was its most left-wing leader in a generation, with plans for a sweeping programme of nationalisation. He resigned as Labour leader after the 2019 election when the party suffered its worst defeat since 1935.

Labour subsequently suspended Corbyn in 2020 and then expelled him from the party following a report into how complaints about antisemitism in the party were handled under his leadership.

Corbyn's plans to create a new political party could further divide Labour's traditional left-wing support at a time when the prime minister is haemorrhaging support and the century-long dominance of Britain's two big parties is in jeopardy.

"The democratic foundation of a new kind of political party will take shape soon," Corbyn said on X. "Discussions are ongoing - and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve."

The announcement that Labour could face a new threat from a left came after the party suffered its most bruising week in government when it was forced to abandon key planks of planned welfare reform, which blew a hole in its budget plans.

Since comfortably beating the Conservatives in a general election a year ago, Starmer has seen his personal popularity slump. Labour now also consistently trails the insurgent, right-wing Reform UK party, which is led by pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.

When voters were asked what Labour's biggest achievement had been since winning the election, the most common answer was "nothing", polling firm More In Common said on Friday.

A new left-wing party led by Corbyn would win 10% of the vote, reducing Labour's share from 23% to 20%, the same polling company said last week.

Corbyn, who was elected as an independent member of parliament last year, said the "Labour government has refused to deliver the change people expected and deserved".

On Thursday evening, lawmaker Zarah Sultana said she was quitting the Labour Party and planned to launch the new party with Corbyn.

Corbyn congratulated Sultana on Friday on her "principled decision" to quit Labour and said he was delighted she will "help build us a real alternative".

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskillEditing by Alistair Smout and Frances Kerry)