Another one bites the dust. Iqbal Mohamed has become the second Independent MP to quit the left-wing Your Party amid party infighting. The group, founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, has seen unedifying splits become very public as serious rifts grow between the MPs involved in its launch. The animosity between Corbyn and Sultana has been well documented and now two members of the parliamentary Independent Alliance group have deserted the party. Talk about trouble in paradise, eh?
In a letter, Mohamed slammed the ‘false allegations and smears’ about him, which he described as ‘surprising and disappointing’. He went on:
I have decided to leave Your Party and continue serving as I was elected as an Independent Member of Parliament for Dewsbury and Batley. The many false allegations and smears made against me and others, and reported as fact without evidence, have been surprising and disappointing. However, I am confident that my colleagues and I have acted professionally, patiently and in good faith throughout. I thank everyone who has dedicated time, energy and commitment to building and supporting Your Party, and wish them success in their future endeavours. British politics needs a genuine, inclusive force for positive change and I hope Your Party fulfils that role.
Mohamed, one of the six MPs that make up the Independent Alliance in parliament, is following in the footsteps of Adnan Hussain MP who stepped away last week. Hussain described a ‘toxic’ culture in Your Party, especially towards Muslim men – a number of trans activists have hit out at the Independent MPs online – and added there had been a ‘pattern of clique-like behaviour and gatekeeping’ in a party ‘dominated by persistent infighting’.
Hussain’s resignation came just hours after he had put his name to a letter that criticised Sultana over the party’s financial issues. Earlier in the year, confusion arose after Sultana encouraged supporters to sign up and pay into Your Party using a link that had not been approved by Corbyn. Senior figures have now accused her of withholding the funds – around £800,000, which is being held by a company she runs – despite agreeing to transfer the cash and legal action is being pursued. Crikey!
Mohamed’s news comes just a week out from Your Party’s inaugural conference in Liverpool, and is yet another blow to the fractured group. As Mr S wrote earlier this week, Sultana has not even invited co-founder Corbyn to an event she is hosting on the eve of the meet-up and supporters are becoming increasingly frustrated by the animosity in the party. Will the Liverpool meet help iron out Your Party’s woes? Don’t hold your breath…
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