The launch of a new left-wing insurgent party was engulfed in chaos today just hours after being announced. Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, quit Labour last night and announced she was setting up a new movement with Jeremy Corbyn.

But it has been claimed that the former Labour leader was caught by surprise. He has been left “furious and bewildered” that Ms Sultana went ahead without consultation, according to Politico’s Playbook newsletter. There also appears to be no decision on what to call the new left-wing party with potential options including “Real Change” and “Peace and Justice Project”.

DON’T MISS

Powered by 

BBC’s Naga Munchetty issues damning verdict in fiery Yvette Cooper grilling

Comments

Keir Starmer has been humiliated at the worst possible moment

Comments

Red Wall legend warns Starmer and Reeves ‘you neglected the North – now it’s Brexit 2.0’

Comments

Keir Starmer disaster one year on as poll shows Labour vote plummeting

Comments

Ed Balls issues devastating verdict on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves

Comments

Starmer branded ‘puppet of the Left’ over welfare U-turn after Rachel Reeves meltdown

Comments

Keir Starmer’s welfare cuts narrowly pass as 49 furious MPs stage rebellion

Comments

Starmer sidekick torn to shreds in car crash interview after Labour climbdown

Comments

Keir Starmer refuses to say Rachel Reeves will keep job as Chancellor

Comments

Keir Starmer blasted for ‘worst start by new PM ever’ by polling guru John Curtice

Comments

Full details of Nigel Farage’s plan to become prime minister revealed

Comments

Rachel Reeves’s tears are rational – Labour rebels have forced her to raise taxes

Comments

‘Government in crisis’ as GB News star delivers damning verdict on emotional Commons

Comments

Ed Miliband in the running to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor – runners and riders

Comments

Jeremy Corbyn confirms new left-wing party as Keir Starmer set for ‘massive headache’

Comments

Texts show Jeremy Corbyn was furious over surprise new party announcement by Zarah Sultana

Comments

Keir Starmer humiliated as MP quits to join new party with Corbyn – but he’s now furious

Comments

Jeremy Corbyn sets out plan for new party in challenge to Keir Starmer

Comments

Blow for Keir Starmer as young voters abandon Labour for 2 parties

Comments

Full list of MPs who voted against banning Palestine Action as terrorist group

Comments

BBC’s Naga Munchetty issues damning verdict in fiery Yvette Cooper grilling

Comments

Keir Starmer has been humiliated at the worst possible moment

Comments

Red Wall legend warns Starmer and Reeves ‘you neglected the North – now it’s Brexit 2.0’

Comments

Keir Starmer disaster one year on as poll shows Labour vote plummeting

Comments

Ed Balls issues devastating verdict on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves

Comments

Starmer branded ‘puppet of the Left’ over welfare U-turn after Rachel Reeves meltdown

Comments

Keir Starmer’s welfare cuts narrowly pass as 49 furious MPs stage rebellion

Comments

Starmer sidekick torn to shreds in car crash interview after Labour climbdown

Comments

Keir Starmer refuses to say Rachel Reeves will keep job as Chancellor

Comments

Keir Starmer blasted for ‘worst start by new PM ever’ by polling guru John Curtice

Comments

Full details of Nigel Farage’s plan to become prime minister revealed

Comments

Rachel Reeves’s tears are rational – Labour rebels have forced her to raise taxes

Comments

‘Government in crisis’ as GB News star delivers damning verdict on emotional Commons

Comments

Ed Miliband in the running to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor – runners and riders

Comments

Jeremy Corbyn confirms new left-wing party as Keir Starmer set for ‘massive headache’

Comments

Texts show Jeremy Corbyn was furious over surprise new party announcement by Zarah Sultana

Comments

Keir Starmer humiliated as MP quits to join new party with Corbyn – but he’s now furious

Comments

Jeremy Corbyn sets out plan for new party in challenge to Keir Starmer

Comments

Blow for Keir Starmer as young voters abandon Labour for 2 parties

Comments

Full list of MPs who voted against banning Palestine Action as terrorist group

Comments

BBC’s Naga Munchetty issues damning verdict in fiery Yvette Cooper grilling

Comments

Keir Starmer has been humiliated at the worst possible moment

Comments

Red Wall legend warns Starmer and Reeves ‘you neglected the North – now it’s Brexit 2.0’

Comments

Keir Starmer disaster one year on as poll shows Labour vote plummeting

Comments

Ed Balls issues devastating verdict on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves

Comments

Starmer branded ‘puppet of the Left’ over welfare U-turn after Rachel Reeves meltdown

Comments

Keir Starmer’s welfare cuts narrowly pass as 49 furious MPs stage rebellion

Comments

Some on the left were also said to be nonplussed by Ms Sultana, who lost the Labour whip last year, claiming she would jointly lead the new party with veteran Mr Corbyn.

It comes after the ex-Labour leader strongly hinted at plans to launch a new party in an interview on ITV’s Peston on Wednesday.

The Islington North MP said: “There’s a lot of people all around the country in different independent groups. Look in Birmingham, look in Liverpool, look in Southport and so on.”There is a thirst for an alternative view to be put. I’m working with all of those people. That grouping will come together.”

In a statement posted on X last night, Ms Sultana said she was resigning from Sir Keir Starmer’s party and would “co-lead the founding of a new party” with Mr Corbyn, who was kicked out of Labour in an antisemitism row.

She said that the project would also involve “other independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country”.