Your Party makes trans rights core policy at inaugural conference

Your Party, the new fat left-wing movement spearheaded by Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn, has voted to make trans rights a core part of its official policy following a fractious inaugural conference in Liverpool. Delegates endorsed a motion committing the party to “inclusive politics” and solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities, including trans people, as part of a broader socialist vision centred on equality and grassroots activism.

The decision comes after months of internal disputes over gender issues, which saw two MPs quit the party earlier this year. Former member Adnan Hussain sparked controversy by claiming trans women are “not biologically women”, prompting accusations of bigotry and calls for clarity on policy. In her closing speech, Sultana declared: “Bigotry has no place in our movement. Our safety is in solidarity. None of us are free until all of us are free”.

But trans rights were only one part of a packed agenda. Delegates also voted on the party’s name, leadership structure, membership rules and founding principles. After heated debate, the temporary name “Your Party” was confirmed as permanent, though only about a third of members backed it, revealing lingering divisions over branding. Other options, including “Popular Alliance” and “For the Many”, were rejected. 

One of the most contentious votes concerned leadership. Members narrowly opted for a collective leadership model - winning by just 51.6% to 48.4% - over Corbyn’s preferred single-leader structure. The new system will see an 11-member executive committee, including a chair and spokesperson, take charge, though MPs will be excluded from top roles. Regional elections for these positions are scheduled for February, with a caretaker committee in place until then. 

In another significant move, the conference approved dual membership, allowing individuals to join Your Party while remaining members of other political parties. Supporters hailed this as a sign of openness, while critics warned it could create confusion during elections. The motion passed comfortably, 69.2% to 30.8%.

Delegates also endorsed a broad socialist vision, pledging solidarity with migrants, workers and all marginalised groups, and rejecting what many described as a culture of expulsions. A motion calling for fair disciplinary procedures and an end to political “witch-hunts” was passed, following controversy over the exclusion of Socialist Workers Party members - a decision that led Sultana to boycott the first day of the event in protest. 

Despite these landmark decisions, the conference exposed deep tensions within the fledgling party. Attendance fell far short of the 13,000 originally expected, with only around 2,500 turning up, leaving the cavernous halls of the Liverpool venue looking sparse. Public disagreements between Corbyn and Sultana, separate rallies, and walkouts underscored the fragility of unity. As one commentator noted, the weekend mixed “deep idealism with factional splits that would make Monty Python blush”.