Keir Starmer’s election as Labour leader has put the skids under the party’s left-wing group Momentum.
The activist movement that propped up Jeremy Corbyn has splintered amid recriminations over the defeat of its main candidate, Rebecca Long-Bailey.
Momentum also lost the battle for three seats on Labour ’s ruling National Executive Committee.
And Corbynite lieutenants such as failed deputy leadership candidate Richard Burgon, former party chair Ian Lavery and Jon Trickett, a critic of Starmer’s pro-Remain stance, have been sacked from the Shadow Cabinet.
Now a new group, Forward Momentum, has been launched in protest at a leadership it calls “too Londoncentric”.
The move is a blow to Momentum founder and chairman Jon Lansman, a key ally of Mr Corbyn.
Both friends and critics now want his resignation.
One ex-Corbyn supporter said: “Momentum became his toy. This split has a lot to do with how he ran it. It will cause huge damage to the left.”
Merseyside councillor Christine Howard, who backs the breakaway group, said: “Momentum needs a new purpose, supporting us to build communities and organise workplaces.”
She claimed members had been treated as “foot soldiers”. A statement from Momentum’s officers called for “unity and reflection” and warned the group “cannot continue as it has been”.
Forward Momentum said it aimed to “refound and democratise” the movement by strengthening ties with unions and working-class communities.
Its organisers are mounting a petition urging reforms and plan to put up leadership candidates challenging Lansman.
A question mark hangs over what will happen to Momentum’s funds. It claims to have 40,000 members, each paying a £10 fee.
