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At the idea of a recent socialist party led by Jeremy Corbyn and the Coventry South MP was first mooted in the summer, it garnered immense interest that hundreds of thousands expressed an interest in becoming members.

Although it was almost immediately plagued by disputes – its founders disagreed intensely over its early governance and financial approach – many anticipated this weekend's inaugural conference would signal a new beginning.

Troubling First Day

Many of the participants are people who left the Labour party, disappointed by the direction of the present administration and searching for a political home as they are concerned by the rise of the competing political group.

When arrangements for the party's first official gathering were finalised, Sultana and Corbyn seemed to resolved their differences. Participating in a leftwing festival in Manchester last month, Sultana humorously paralleled the pair to the famous musical siblings, saying: “I’m here to tell you the show is back on the road.”

Yet when the doors to the conference centre in Liverpool were unlocked on Saturday morning, Sultana was conspicuously not present. As Corbyn delivered his opening address, she was sipping hot chocolate in a coffee shop about a short distance from the venue.

Structure Disagreement

It became evident there was no unified position on how the party should be led. Corbyn told journalists he supported a established hierarchical structure, with one person elected to take charge, and suggested he’d be likely to run if members selected this option.

But, in an interview, Sultana said she was advocating for a group decision-making process, with important choices being made by lay members – those not currently acting as MPs or councillors. She added that she did not think parties should be run by “individual figures”. She did, nonetheless, indicate she would be ready to compete opposing Corbyn if there was a vote for a single leader.

Problematic Environment

While Sultana maintained she and the former Labour leader were getting on “really well” – they had, she said, talked about how they wanted the conference to be “a positive, joyful experience where members feel empowered” – she was sharply negative about various associates and Your Party officials whom she feels are briefing against her. She declined to identify individuals, but it is believed that relations between her backers and Corbyn’s ex-senior aide Karie Murphy are particularly fraught.

The elected representative – who abandoned Labour in July – also mentioned that there was still a “toxic culture” among others in Your Party, which had resulted in “pressure, coercion and defamation” and “intentional disruption”.

Absence and Group Conflicts

Strains came to a head around lunchtime when it became known Sultana would boycott the first day of the conference, in alliance with would-be delegates who had been turned away from the event due to connections to other progressive movements – particularly the Socialist Workers party. Her representative labeled this a “political persecution”, adding: “We must build a party that is inclusive of all progressives.”

Supporters of Corbyn – who mistakenly stated on Saturday morning that the the group was listed by the regulatory body – were incensed, claiming Sultana was seeking to orchestrate a “secondary event”. They think permitting dual affiliations would create chaos and worsen internal divisions which already looks to have hindered the new party.

Concerning the standing of the Socialist Workers party, one associate said: “Although it isn't formally recognized by the Electoral Commission but it is still a party. The name speaks for itself.”

Frustration Among Participants

Numerous attendees were disappointed that Saturday’s activities became dominated by group conflicts when they would have preferred to discuss important topics such as the economic pressures and immigration, as well as planning for next year’s local elections.

The group is has not determined if it will run its own nominees or back socialist independents and some members think the party will have failed if it is not available as a choice as an alternative to Labour.

Hope for Sunday

It remains to be seen if proceedings can be salvaged on Sunday, when the outcomes of important ballots – such as the party’s permanent name and organizational system – will be revealed. Sultana is scheduled to participate and deliver an address, which has reassured those who still wish for cohesion.

However the majority of attendees remained disheartened as they made their way of the conference hall into a rainy Liverpool night on Saturday. Maybe the sentiment of the day was captured by an individual attendee, who said: “My generous drink is transforming into a bottle.”