Four of the six Hastings Independents councillors: Paul Barnett, front, with, from left, Nigel Sinden, Andy Batsford and John Cannan (photo: Hastings Independents Facebook page).

Hastings Independents join Sultana and Corbyn’s Your Party

The six councillors of the Hastings Independents Group have formally joined the newly launched left-wing political movement, Your Party, co-founded by Zarah Sultana MP and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Nick Terdre reports. 

Cllrs Paul Barnett, Andy Batsford, John Cannan, Nigel Sinden, Mike Turner and Simon Willis — who resigned from the Labour Party in December 2023 to form the Hastings Independent Group — have now joined Your Party, the provisional name for the newly established left-wing alternative to Labour set up by former Labour MP Zarah Sultana and MP Jeremy Corbyn, who led the Labour Party to defeat in the 2019 general election.

They say they support Your Party’s mission to build a fairer, more democratic and more inclusive politics across the UK.

Paul Barnett, left, campaigning in Islington last summer for Jeremy Corbyn’s election as an independent MP after he was expelled from the Labour Party (photo: Hastings Independents Facebook page).

Group leader Cllr Paul Barnett welcomed the rapid momentum behind the new party. “It’s extraordinary, half a million people signing up in just days. This shows the country has been crying out for a real alternative.

“We saw the direction Labour was heading nearly two years ago. Since then, its increasingly centralised decision-making and lack of principled leadership has only deepened public disillusionment. People no longer see them as a credible force for change.

“In Hastings, stepping outside the party whip has allowed us to challenge bad decisions more freely, from opposing the criminalisation of homelessness to standing with our Muslim communities in the face of local and global hostility. We’ve also championed democratic localism, giving residents a real say in shaping the town’s future.”

Real hope

“With Your Party gaining ground faster than both Labour and Reform combined, there is real hope again. We look forward to building strong alliances with trade unions, grassroots organisations, and other progressive movements to shape a more equal, compassionate and accountable politics here in Hastings and across the UK.”

The Hastings Independents’ endorsement of Your Party marks a significant early step in the party’s ambition to unite progressive forces ahead of the next local and general elections, they say.

Paul Barnett argues in favour of the federal model for local government reorganisation at Full Council in March (photo: HOT).

In the debate on local government reorganisation, the group has argued in favour of a federal unitary authority, whereby the existing district and borough councils would be retained and East Sussex County Council abolished, its functions being taken on by the lower-tier councils.

It has also deplored the events in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, an end to UK arms sales and military assistance to Israel, and an enquiry into the UK’s response to the conflict.

Hastings Independents’ attempt to register as a party under their own name was rejected for a third time in May by the Electoral Commission, which apparently considers the name misleading on the grounds that voters would not expect independents to be members of a party.

Also in: Politics