Your Party Turmoil Deepens Over Withheld Donations

Published: 14 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The escalating internal conflict within Your Party, the leftwing political movement founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, has entered a new and highly public phase with a dispute over hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations. What began as an administrative disagreement has grown into a bitter struggle that now threatens to overshadow the party’s founding message of unity, grassroots empowerment and political renewal.

In a joint statement issued by Corbyn alongside Shockat Adam, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan and Iqbal Mohamed, the group revealed that a significant portion of the funds donated by supporters has been withheld from the party. They described the situation as both “frustrating and disheartening”, emphasising that ordinary people had contributed the money in good faith to help build what they hoped would be a powerful new voice in British politics. According to the statement, hundreds of thousands of pounds remain beyond the party’s reach despite repeated attempts to secure them.

The dispute centres on donations and membership fees collected through MOU Operations Ltd, a company established earlier this year by Your Party’s founders to handle the organisation’s early administrative needs. The company is now solely controlled by Zarah Sultana, who has recently faced mounting criticism from Corbyn’s allies over her handling of the funds. Earlier this week, the Guardian revealed that Sultana and Corbyn had fallen out over the money, triggering a wave of public speculation and raising questions about the stability of the fledgling movement.

Sultana offered to transfer £600,000 held by MOU Operations to Your Party, but the offer was rejected by Corbyn’s camp, who accused her of “playing political games” with the donations. They argued that supporters gave their money to build a movement, not to fuel internal power struggles. The joint statement from Corbyn and the four MPs noted that while a “small portion” of the funds was transferred on Thursday, the amount was nowhere near sufficient. They pledged to continue pressing for the immediate release of all money donated by supporters so the party could begin functioning properly.

They painted a vivid picture of the challenges now facing the movement. A team of volunteers, they said, has been working with minimal resources to prepare for a founding conference later this month. Their efforts were described as “heroic”, but the lack of access to the donated funds has severely limited the party’s capacity to build momentum. They warned that although some difficulties were expected in establishing a new political organisation from scratch, others were the result of deliberate actions that hindered progress.

The dispute is particularly damaging because Your Party was created as a grassroots alternative to the establishment politics many of its supporters felt betrayed by. The founders promised transparency, democratic participation and a movement built not on vested interests but on collective purpose. The ongoing row over money has therefore struck at the heart of the party’s credibility, raising concerns about governance, trust and whether the project can withstand internal division.

Party officials have been seeking around £800,000 from MOU Operations, arguing that the funds rightfully belong to the party and are essential for launching its national operations. They have threatened legal action to recover the full amount, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. The possibility of court proceedings so early in the party’s existence underscores how volatile the internal dynamics have become.

Sultana’s camp maintains that she is committed to transferring the funds, but insists that as the sole director of the company, she is legally obliged to ensure that all costs, expenses and liabilities are settled before releasing the remaining money. Her spokesperson reiterated that she intends to hand over all funds and data held by MOU Operations, but warned that the process may take time. According to the spokesperson, an initial £200,000 was scheduled to be transferred on 12 November, with the rest to follow once outstanding financial obligations are cleared.

For supporters, the disagreement has been both bewildering and discouraging. Many joined Your Party believing in its promise to give ordinary people a stronger voice in politics. The idea that their donations are now trapped in a dispute between leading figures has led to fears that the movement could fracture before its first major event has even taken place. The founding conference, intended to set out the party’s long-term vision, policies and governance structures, now risks being overshadowed by the infighting.

Observers note that internal struggles are common in new political movements, especially those born out of ideological passion and rapid mobilisation. However, the public nature of this dispute, its connection to substantial sums of money and the involvement of high-profile figures such as Sultana and Corbyn have amplified its significance. The row has attracted widespread media attention, much of it negative, at a moment when the party needs to project unity and professionalism to gain broader public support.

Critics of the movement from across the political spectrum have seized on the conflict as evidence that the party is not ready for the responsibilities of national politics. Allies, however, argue that the scrutiny should not obscure the broader goals that inspired the movement: addressing inequality, empowering communities and challenging entrenched power structures in British society. They insist that once the financial issues are resolved and governance mechanisms are formalised, the party will be better positioned to focus on its political mission.

Nonetheless, the short-term impact is undeniable. The dispute has diverted resources, attention and energy away from the task of building a credible organisational structure. It has also raised questions about leadership, accountability and the systems in place to manage the party’s finances. Many supporters now want clearer information about oversight mechanisms and reassurance that internal disagreements will be handled transparently and constructively.

The coming days will be crucial. If the remainder of the funds is transferred soon, the party may still regain its footing and proceed with its founding conference with confidence. Delays or further escalation, however, could deepen divisions and risk long-lasting damage. The ability of the party’s leaders to resolve the dispute quickly and cooperatively will be a major test of their capacity to run the movement effectively.

For now, the row illustrates the challenges inherent in building a new political organisation in an era of intense public scrutiny. Your Party’s promise of a democratic, grassroots movement has resonated with thousands across the country. Whether it can overcome its growing pains and deliver on that promise remains to be seen.