Starmer Faces Bangladeshi-Backed Left-Wing Threat and New Corbyn Party

Labour Party insiders are increasingly concerned that Prime Minister Keir Starmer could face an unprecedented challenge at the next general election, potentially losing his own constituency to a surging left-wing movement. The threat is amplified by the recent formation of a new political party spearheaded by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, the prominent left-wing MP who recently quit the Labour benches.

The alarm bells are ringing not just for Starmer's Holborn and St Pancras seat, but also for Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, both of whom are reportedly under threat from independent candidates or those aligned with the nascent Corbyn-Sultana political force. A senior Labour figure, speaking to the New Statesman magazine, expressed stark fears, stating, "It is not inconceivable that Keir, Wes and Shabana could all lose their seats," warning of a "worst-of-all-worlds scenario" where Labour faces a pincer movement from both the left and Reform UK.

A significant driver of this discontent is the public's anger over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Recent disturbing images from the region have intensified criticism of the government's stance, making the war an even more potent issue for those seeking alternatives to mainstream parties. Beyond Gaza, other issues have dented Sir Keir's standing, including a now-abandoned plan to cut benefits for some people with disabilities – a policy U-turn that proved embarrassing for the Labour leadership. Experts also suggest a prevailing sentiment among voters in large cities that Labour has taken their support for granted for too long.

Jeremy Corbyn's New Party Takes Shape:

Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana officially launched their new political party on July 24, 2025. While currently being referred to by the provisional name "Your Party," its final registered name is expected to be decided at its inaugural conference, likely to be held in the autumn. Sultana, who resigned from the Labour Party in July, has joined the Independent Alliance, a parliamentary grouping formed on September 2, 2024, by Corbyn and other independent MPs including Shockat Adam, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan, and Iqbal Mohamed. This alliance, initially created to gain more speaking time in Parliament, now serves as a foundation for the new party.

Corbyn and Sultana's joint statement upon the party's launch vowed to "build a democratic movement that can take on the rich and powerful - and win." They described it as "a new kind of political party, one that belongs to you," advocating for a "mass redistribution of wealth and power," including increased taxation on the wealthy and public ownership of key industries like energy, water, rail, and postal services. On the issue of Gaza, the new party pledges to demand an end to arms sales to Israel and to "defend the right to protest against genocide."

The potential for a "pro-Gaza" independent candidate to succeed is not without precedent. In last year's general election, Andrew Feinstein came second in Sir Keir's constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, securing a significant 7,312 votes compared to Starmer's 18,884, though the Prime Minister retained his seat with a comfortable majority of 11,572 votes. The new threat to Labour could be particularly potent if left-wing independent candidates, the Green Party, and Corbyn's new party manage to forge alliances or reach agreements to avoid standing against each other in winnable seats.

UK's Stance on Palestinian Statehood:

Amidst this domestic political turbulence, Sir Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that the UK could take the significant step of recognising Palestinian statehood in September, ahead of a major United Nations gathering. This recognition would only be withheld if Israel meets specific conditions: allowing more aid into Gaza, ceasing land annexation in the West Bank, agreeing to a ceasefire, and committing to a long-term peace process over the next two months.

The move has drawn strong criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who condemned it as "rewarding Hamas's monstrous terrorism." From Downing Street, following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Gaza, Sir Keir reiterated that the UK's "message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged but unequivocal: they must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm, and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander clarified that the UK would assess in September "how far the parties have met these steps," emphasizing that "we're giving Israel eight weeks to act." She dismissed suggestions that this policy shift was merely "gesture politics" or a result of backbench pressure, asserting that "this is about the Palestinian people. It's about getting aid in to those starving children." The Prime Minister had indeed been facing considerable pressure from cross-party MPs, with over 250 signatories, including prominent Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, urging him to act on Palestinian recognition.