New political party will be confusing, say voters

Norman Brown said there would be "too many" political parties after MP Zarah Sultana announced she will co-found a new left-wing party with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

A new political party could become "confusing", say concerned constituents in the wake of MP Zarah Sultana's plan to launch one after her resignation from Labour.

Sultana made her declaration on Thursday to co-found the new left-wing party with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

People in her Coventry constituency had mixed views on the news, with some also concerned another party would "dilute" things.

Corbyn has praised the "principled decision" by Sultana - but councillor Jim O'Boyle told the BBC that if her resignation triggers a by-election, he would put himself forward.

O'Boyle, who is in charge of jobs, regeneration and climate change on the city council, represents St Michael's ward, within Sultana's Coventry South constituency.

He said: "It's the least surprising news I've heard in a long time – I knew this was going to happen, I'm afraid she was never really a true member of the Labour Party – she didn't believe in its values, she didn't believe in its outcomes."

Sultana was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party last year after she voted against the government and backed a move to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

Until this week however, she had retained her party membership.

'She's really popular'

She said the new party would be formed with other independent MPs and activists, aiming to challenge a "broken" Westminster system.

Constituent Jackie Brown told the BBC the country "will never get anything done" as she questioned: "Why are we diluting too many parties?"

Norman Brown echoed her views, adding: "Another political party is just going to confuse what we already have, it's too many political parties.

"I don't think it's a good idea at all."

But some residents of the city supported Sultana's decision.

"Good on her, I think she's really popular around here isn't she," Sharon Luckett said.

"Farage has done it, and look how successful he's been.

"I think there's a lot of discord among the Labour Party and Labour voters, because they haven't really treated us terribly well."

Sharon Luckett supported the former Labour MP's decision

Corbyn, who was himself suspended from the Labour Party, in 2020, released a statement on Friday, supporting Sultana.

He wrote: "Congratulations to Zarah Sultana on her principled decision to leave the Labour Party. I am delighted that she will help us build a real alternative.

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

"Together, we can create something that is desperately missing from our broken political system: hope."

'Perhaps resign her seat'

But O'Boyle questioned how "principled" the MP is, referencing an Early Day Motion signed by Sultana in 2020.

He said: "Of course she signed an EDM back in 2020 saying that any MP that crossed the floor and joined another party should resign and have a by-election, so let's see if she's as principled as she claims she is.

"She thinks she's principled but if she was principled then I'm sure she would then perhaps resign her seat and stand again and let's see how she gets on there."

Coventry Councillor Jim O'Boyle said, should a by-election be triggered by the news, he would contest it

Responding to whether he would contest a by-election, should it be triggered - he said he would "love to".

"I think it would be a great opportunity, clearly, to stand up for Labour values and Labour's policies which is what we do," O'Boyle explained.

"[This is] in terms of making sure we've got people who can get NHS appointments. [And] get the investment into our city, get jobs for people and create better cost of living for people."