With Reform rising in the polls and Labour loyalty dwindling across the region, ‘Your Party’ and the Green Party are viewing this as an opportunity to challenge Labour’s grip on Merseyside.
Liverpool has been a Labour stronghold since the 90’s, and has historically “stood up for justice”, according to Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South.
‘Your Party’ prospects
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s ‘Your Party’ took to St. George’s Hall last Thursday in a bid to secure voters from Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
The duo presented a united front following their public disagreement over membership data controls last month.
The ‘Your Party’ founding conference is set to take place in Liverpool late November.
This will give party members a chance to make key decisions, in what the leader’s are calling a truly democratic process.
“If an election was held today, Nigel Farage would be our prime minister. So, the stakes are too high for failure to be an option. And both Jeremy and I are absolutely committed to make sure this project succeeds.”
– Zarah Sultana
Where do the Green Party stand?
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, said: “I think Liverpool badly needs a Green MP and the Green alternative.
“We see not just Keir Starmer’s relationship with The Sun newspaper but also his general attitude to working class communities and places in the north.”
Since Polanski’s election as party leader, the Green Party has seen an increase in memberships of over 20%.
They now have over 100,000 members – meaning they are the fourth most subscribed to party in the UK, beating both the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party.
Green and ‘Your Party’ alliances
Both ‘Your Party’ and Green Party leaders spoke about their potential alliance at The World Transformed, a left-wing political festival held in Hulme last weekend.
This could mean that candidates step aside in constituencies where there is an already established voter base for the other party.
Alan Gibbons, Councillor for Orrell Park and Leader of Liverpool Community Independents, said: “I think it would be ridiculous to have two left of centre parties basically in the same constituency or ward, competing for votes and allowing Reform to get in or Labour to hang on.
“So obviously there’s got to be discussions – Zack Polanski, Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn have all indicated that at recent meetings.”
He went on to mention a by-election in Sefton Park wherein the Liverpool Independents stepped down due to the Green Party having “a much better local base”.
Gibbons’ party plan to absorb into ‘Your Party’ once they are fully established.
Featured image: Emily Shillcock
