Jeremy Corbyn has faced criticism from his new party co-leader, Zarah Sultana, over his handling of antisemitism and Brexit. Ms Sultana accused Mr Corbyn of “capitulating to the IHRA definition of antisemitism” and of alienating voters by “triangulating” on Brexit. She argued that Labour under his leadership failed to channel its mass membership into the labour movement or tenants’ unions, and did not adequately challenge attacks from the state and media.
++ ‘Horrifying’ bubble-like lumps on deer raise outbreak concerns in US
In 2018, Corbyn’s Labour adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, following calls to address antisemitism within the party. Initially, he had resisted fully adopting the definition, opting for only seven of its eleven examples. Ms Sultana criticised the IHRA definition as conflating antisemitism with anti-Zionism, a point even its lead author Kenneth Stern has publicly questioned.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews defended the definition, stating it is supported by the majority of the UK’s Jewish population. They described Ms Sultana’s comments as a “grave insult” and said Labour’s true failure under Corbyn was “unlawfully harassing and discriminating against Jews”. They warned that attempts to delegitimise the IHRA definition undermine both anti-racism and social cohesion.
++ Surge in US immigrant transfers sparks concern over legal access and welfare
Your Party, led jointly by Ms Sultana and Mr Corbyn, has attracted independent MPs, councillors, and candidates who opposed Labour’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Some have already unseated or challenged senior Labour figures, including Jonathan Ashworth, Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood, and Jess Phillips. Activists are expected to decide the party’s permanent name and leadership structure at a conference this autumn.
