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At the idea of a fresh socialist party led by the former Labour leader and Zarah Sultana was initially proposed in the summer, it was so popular that hundreds of thousands expressed an interest in becoming members.

Although it was almost immediately plagued by disputes – its co-founders clashed fiercely over its initial leadership and revenue strategy – many expected this weekend's launch gathering would herald a fresh start.

Troubling First Day

A sizeable chunk of the participants are former Labour members, unhappy about the policies of the incumbent leadership and searching for a political home as they fear the increasing popularity of the competing political group.

As plans for the party's inaugural conference were wrapped up, Sultana and Corbyn seemed to buried the hatchet. Speaking at a leftwing festival in Manchester last month, Sultana lightheartedly likened the duo to the Gallagher brothers, remarking: “I want to announce the show is back on the road.”

But when the entrances to the event venue in Liverpool welcomed attendees on Saturday morning, Sultana was noticeably absent. As Corbyn gave his introductory speech, she was sipping hot chocolate in a cafe about a mile from the conference site.

Structure Conflict

The situation revealed there was little agreement on how the party needed to be structured. Corbyn told journalists he supported a traditional leadership model, with a single individual elected to take charge, and implied he’d be inclined to stand if members voted for this approach.

In contrast, in an discussion, Sultana said she was supporting a shared governance model, with crucial policies being made by lay members – those not presently working as political representatives. She added that she did not think parties should be run by “single leaders”. She did, however, suggest she would be prepared to run in competition with Corbyn if there was a election for a individual head.

Negative Atmosphere

Although Sultana insisted she and the former Labour leader were on good terms – they had, she said, talked about how they hoped the conference to be “a positive, joyful experience where members feel empowered” – she was scathing about some of his allies and group leaders whom she feels are working against her. She would not specify who, but it is believed that interactions between her followers and Corbyn’s previous top advisor Karie Murphy are notably strained.

The politician – who defected from Labour in July – also mentioned that there was still a “toxic culture” among some within Your Party, which had led to “pressure, coercion and defamation” and “planned interference”.

Boycott and Internal Divisions

Conflict escalated significantly around the afternoon when it became known Sultana would avoid the initial sessions of the conference, in alliance with potential participants who had been turned away from the event due to affiliations with other socialist organizations – notably the Socialist Workers party. Her spokesperson labeled this a “witch-hunt”, adding: “It is essential to create a party that embraces every left-wing supporter.”

Corbyn's associates – who mistakenly stated on Saturday morning that the SWP was officially recognized by the Electoral Commission – were angry, accusing Sultana of seeking to orchestrate a “secondary event”. They think accepting overlapping memberships would lead to problems and increase the factionalism which already appears to have crippled the fledgling movement.

Concerning the standing of the SWP, one associate said: “It might not be registered with the regulatory body but it is clearly an organization. The name speaks for itself.”

Frustration Among Attendees

Numerous attendees were frustrated that Saturday’s events descended into factionalism when they would have wanted to address important topics such as the financial challenges and immigration, as well as preparing for next year’s local elections.

Your Party is yet to decide if it will present its own contenders or back socialist independents and some supporters think the party will have fallen short if it is not on the ballot paper as an replacement for Labour.

Optimism for Sunday

It remains to be seen if the conference can be recovered on Sunday, when the outcomes of crucial polls – such as the final designation and leadership structure – will be declared. Sultana intends to be present and give a speech, which has reassured those who still desire agreement.

However many participants remained disheartened as they shuffled out of the conference hall into a damp night in the city on Saturday. It's possible the atmosphere of the day was expressed by an individual participant, who said: “My large glass of wine is becoming a bottle.”