Zarah Sultana: The Rising Force in Corbyn's New Left-Wing Challenge
Zarah Sultana resigns from Labour to co-lead Corbyn's new socialist party, rallying 500k supporters against Starmer's austerity and inequality policies.
In the turbulent landscape of British politics, where dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer's Labour government simmers amid accusations of austerity-lite policies and foreign policy missteps, Zarah Sultana has emerged as a pivotal figure. The 31-year-old MP for Coventry South, a vocal socialist and advocate for marginalized communities, dramatically resigned from the Labour Party on July 3, 2025, after 14 years of membership. Her announcement wasn't just a departure; it was a declaration of intent to co-lead a new left-wing party alongside Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader and independent MP for Islington North.
This move has injected fresh energy into the UK's fragmented left, positioning Sultana as a bridge between Corbyn's veteran activism and a younger, more diverse generation of progressives. With over half a million people reportedly signing up to support the initiative in its early weeks, Sultana's influence could reshape debates on economic inequality, business regulation, and public services like the NHS—potentially pressuring Labour from the left and influencing broader government policies.Sultana's journey to this moment began in 2019 when she was elected as a Labour MP under Corbyn's leadership, quickly establishing herself as a fierce critic of austerity, inequality, and imperialism. Her resignation letter highlighted a "broken political system" where "just 50 families own more wealth than half the UK population," framing the new party as a vehicle for radical change rather than mere opposition.
Zarah Sultana - Rising force
She envisions a grassroots movement tied to tenants' unions, labor organizing, defending the NHS from privatization, and global solidarity causes like Palestine—issues she argues Starmer's Labour has abandoned in favor of "managed decline and broken promises."
As co-leader, Sultana is pushing for democratic structures, including one-member-one-vote systems, and has suggested naming the party "The Left" to emphasize its unapologetic socialist identity. A founding conference is planned for autumn 2025, where she and Corbyn will formalize policies, potentially attracting more defectors and building toward the 2029 election.
Her potential impact on business and the economy is profound, rooted in a critique of unchecked capitalism. Sultana has long decried "class war" waged by elites, as seen in her 2022 condemnation of a Tory budget that favored the super-rich while ignoring the poorest. In the new party, she advocates for mass wealth redistribution, higher taxes on billionaires and corporations, and public ownership of key sectors to combat obscene inequality—policies that could challenge big business interests and promote worker-led economies.
This approach contrasts sharply with Starmer's pro-business stance, such as maintaining freeports and corporate incentives, which Sultana views as perpetuating poverty and precarity. If the party gains traction, it could force Labour to adopt more progressive economic measures, like ending the two-child benefit cap—a policy that sparked a rebellion among Labour MPs and underscored Sultana's point about internal dissent.
Bolder reforms
Analysts suggest this could split the left vote but also pressure the government toward bolder reforms, such as investing in green jobs and social housing rather than corporate bailouts.
On the NHS, Sultana's statements are unequivocal: she sees privatization as a betrayal of working-class needs and ties the new party's mission to halting it. Drawing from her constituency work, including visits to care homes, she emphasizes fully funding public services to ensure dignity for all, criticizing both Tories and Labour for underinvestment. This focus could amplify calls for NHS reinvestment, influencing government policy by mobilizing public support against creeping privatization under Starmer.
As a young Muslim woman of color, Sultana embodies and champions women's leadership in a male-dominated arena. She has openly called out sexism and Islamophobia in criticisms labeling her as "highly ambitious" or "untested," arguing such rhetoric silences women from aspiring to power. Her co-leadership role challenges traditional hierarchies, inspiring diverse voices and potentially shifting party dynamics toward inclusivity. This extends to broader government policies, where she pushes for anti-discrimination measures, gender equality in labor rights, and intersectional approaches to inequality—issues she links to the party's anti-austerity agenda.Yet, Sultana's impact isn't without tensions. In a recent interview, she critiqued Corbyn's past leadership, accusing him of "capitulating" on antisemitism definitions and mishandling Brexit, which alienated voters.
Fault lines
This reveals fault lines in the nascent party, but also positions Sultana as a modernizer who could broaden its appeal. Critics warn of vote-splitting that benefits the right, like Reform UK, while supporters see it as a "real alternative" to barbarism, offering hope in a two-party system rife with disillusionment.
Ultimately, Sultana's role in Corbyn's new party could catalyze a leftward shift in UK politics, forcing debates on economic justice, public health, and inclusive leadership. As she put it, the choice is "socialism or barbarism"—a rallying cry that, if echoed widely, might redefine the economic and social landscape by 2029. Whether it succeeds depends on uniting the left, but Sultana's charisma and principled stance have already made her a force to watch.
Kazi Mahmood