Jeremy Corbyn says new party is coming - but stops short of Zarah Sultana's claim

Jeremy Corbyn says his new political party is on the way - but isn't ready yet.

It comes after ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana announced last night she was quitting the party to "co-lead" the founding of a new group with the former party leader.

And it follows reports that Mr Corbyn was unhappy with the way Ms Sultana announced the move last night.

In a statement on X, Mr Corbyn welcomed Ms Sultana's decision to leave Labour - but stopped short of confirming he was co-leading the party with her.

"Real change is coming," he wrote.

"One year on from the election, this Labour government has refused to deliver the change people expected and deserved. Poverty, inequality and war are not inevitable.

"Our country needs to change direction, now.

"Congratulations to Zara 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."

Ms Sultana said in her statement that she would "co-lead the founding of a new party" with Corbyn - as well as other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country.

She also cited a long list of reasons for her exit, including the scrapping of winter fuel payments for pensioners, cuts for disabled people and the two-child benefit cap as well as the UK government being an "active participant" in genocide. In a statement shared to X on Thursday evening, Sultana voiced her frustration with the party, saying "Labour has completely failed to improve people’s lives."

The 31-year-old wrote in her statement: "Today, after 14 years, I’m resigning from the Labour Party. Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country."

"Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper," she added. "Just 50 families now own more wealth than half the UK population. Poverty is growing, inequality is obscene and the two-party system offers nothing but managed decline and broken promises.

"A year ago, I was suspended by the Labour Party for voting to abolish the two-child benefit cap and lift 400,000 children out of poverty. I’d do it again. I voted against scrapping winter fuel payments for pensioners. I’d do it again. Now, the government wants to make disabled people suffer; they just can’t decide how much. Meanwhile, a billionaire-backed grifter is leading the polls, because Labour has completely failed to improve people’s lives."

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Sultana, who has repeatedly spoken out against the UK selling arms to Israel, said the British people oppose the genocide in Gaza, and "are not going to take this anymore." She said: "Across the political establishment, from Farage to Starmer, they smear people of conscience trying to stop a genocide in Gaza as terrorists. But the truth is clear: this government is an active participant in genocide. And the British people oppose it. We are not going to take this anymore.

"We’re not an island of strangers; we’re an island that’s suffering. We need homes and lives we can actually afford, not rip-off bills we pay every month to a tiny elite bathing in cash. We need our money spent on public services, not forever wars. In 2029, the choice will be stark: socialism or barbarism.

"Billionaires already have three parties fighting for them. It’s time the rest of us had one." She concluded her statement by encouraging Brits to turn to the new party. "Join us. The time is now," she said.