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At the idea of a recent progressive party spearheaded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana was first mooted in the summer, it attracted huge support that countless individuals expressed an interest in participating.

Although it was quickly beset by disputes – its leaders disagreed intensely over its initial leadership and financial approach – many expected this weekend's launch gathering would signal a new beginning.

Troubling Opening Day

Many of the 2,500 delegates are ex-supporters of Labour, disappointed by the policies of the incumbent leadership and searching for a new party as they are concerned by the increasing popularity of the rival party.

When arrangements for the party's first official gathering were finalised, Sultana and Corbyn appeared to resolved their differences. Participating in a progressive event in Manchester last month, Sultana humorously paralleled the duo to the well-known duo, stating: “Let me assure you the project is moving forward.”

However when the doors to the meeting hall in Liverpool opened on Saturday morning, Sultana was noticeably absent. As Corbyn spoke to kick off the event, she was sipping hot chocolate in a coffee shop about a mile from the location.

Structure Conflict

The situation revealed there was little agreement on how the party should be led. Corbyn informed the press he supported a established hierarchical structure, with a sole leader elected to take charge, and implied he’d be prepared to compete if members selected this option.

But, in an discussion, Sultana said she was backing a group decision-making process, with key decisions being decided by lay members – those not presently working as MPs or councillors. She noted that she did not think parties should be controlled by “sole personalities”. She did, however, state she would be ready to compete in competition with Corbyn if there was a vote for a single leader.

Toxic Culture

Despite Sultana claiming she and the ex-party head were getting on “really well” – they had, she said, talked about how they wanted the conference to be “an encouraging gathering where members are enabled” – she was highly critical about certain supporters and party administrators whom she feels are undermining her. She declined to identify individuals, but it is believed that relations between her backers and Corbyn’s previous top advisor Karie Murphy are especially tense.

The Coventry South MP – who defected from Labour in July – further stated that there was still a “harmful environment” among certain members of Your Party, which had resulted in “pressure, coercion and defamation” and “intentional disruption”.

Boycott and Internal Divisions

Strains reached a peak around midday when it became known Sultana would not attend the first day of the conference, in alliance with potential participants who had been denied entry from the event due to connections to other socialist organizations – especially the Socialist Workers party. Her representative called this a “witch-hunt”, commenting: “We must build a party that is inclusive of all progressives.”

Supporters of Corbyn – who incorrectly claimed on Saturday morning that the the group was listed by the election authority – were angry, claiming Sultana was attempting to stage a “distraction”. They feel accepting overlapping memberships would create chaos and heighten group conflicts which already seems to have hampered the new party.

On the status of the Socialist Workers party, one supporter of Corbyn said: “Even if it is not formally recognized by the election authority but it is nonetheless a political group. Its title indicates its nature.”

Concern Among Attendees

Numerous attendees were frustrated that Saturday’s events became dominated by internal disputes when they would have wanted to address important topics such as the financial challenges and migration policy, as well as strategising for next year’s regional polls.

Your Party is yet to decide if it will present its own contenders or back socialist independents and some members feel the party will have failed if it is not available as a choice as an option besides Labour.

Hope for The Second Day

The result is unclear if the conference can be rescued on Sunday, when the decisions of important ballots – such as the final designation and governance model – will be revealed. Sultana is scheduled to participate and deliver an address, which has comforted those who still desire cohesion.

However most delegates remained despondent as they departed of the event venue into a wet evening in Liverpool on Saturday. It's possible the atmosphere of the day was expressed by one delegate, who said: “My generous drink is transforming into a entire container.”