Jeremy Corbyn has attended talks about forming a new left-wing political party, it is claimed.
The former Labour leader, who was expelled as a party member earlier this year, spoke to a meeting discussing a new political party called Collective. This will be aimed at countering Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and challenging Labour – and aims to contest seats at the next General Election.
Mr Corbyn addressed the discussion on Sunday, with an insider saying Collective will respond to Labour’s “rightwing drift” under Keir Starmer. The North Islington MP, who now sits as an independent, hasn’t officially endorsed the group at this stage, The Guardian reports.
Pamela Fitzpatrick, director of Mr Corbyn’s Peace and Justice project, told the newspaper: “We have seen the rise of the far right and already people are feeling politically homeless because they were so desperate for change but support for Labour is dropping so quickly. We need a real movement that can fill that gap.”
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Another insider said: “This was the beginning of a potential mass movement of the working class outside of the Labour Party.” It is understood talks centred around finding new leaders to be a figurehead for the left after Mr Corbyn.
A spokesman for the MP said he’s not endorsed the new party, saying he attended Sunday’s meeting to “listen and share a variety of views about the way forward for the left”. Mr Corbyn has previously said he wants to support a new grassroots organisation “capable of challenging the stale two-party system”. The latest development comes days after Mr Corbyn announced an alliance with four other pro-Gaza MPs.
The Mirror has contacted Mr Corbyn for comment.