How Corbyn’s new party is preparing for battle – and where insiders think they could win
By Faye Brown, political reporter
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new party will offer “unapologetically socialist” policies, with the pair to embark on a nationwide tour to listen to ideas, Sky News understands.
The former Labour MPs are aiming to hold the party’s first conference in the autumn to help decide what it stands for and models of leadership.
Ms Sultana told Sky News its policies will include “democratic public ownership of key industries, universal free childcare, rent controls, free public transport and much more”.
Mr Corbyn, the ex-Labour leader, added there is “huge appetite for the policies that are needed to fix society”, including “wealth redistribution, housing justice, and a foreign policy based on peace and human rights”.
The autumn conference will be for paid members rather than those who have simply signed up to the party’s website.
How to translate signups into membership, and exactly how members will have their say on policies, will be discussed as part of a “founding process” over the next few months.
This will involve local engagement with communities up and down the country, including rallies and meetings fronted by Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana, as well as “other public figures”, a source close to the party told Sky News.
While there are many details to be fleshed out, including the name, the pair’s “primary aim” is to make gains at the local elections next May, it is understood.
