JEREMY Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new left-wing party is facing its first policy split amid calls for them to suspend an MP over comments made about trans women.
Adnan Hussain, elected as an independent MP for Blackburn, became the focus of a social media row over the weekend.
Hussain sparked fury after stating that “safe third spaces” should be an alternative option for transgender people. When asked if he believed trans women are women, Hussain replied: “They're not biologically women, hence trans-women.”
Hussain is currently a member of the Independent Alliance, alongside Corbyn, Sultana, and three other MPs who have been outspoken in their support for Gaza.
The MPs in the alliance are expected to join Your Party – which is a temporary name until a permanent one is chosen by the membership – once it has been officially founded following a conference in the autumn.
Corbyn and Sultana have been vocally supportive of trans rights in the past, with many social media users urging them to intervene following Hussain’s comments.
The Blackburn MP became embroiled in the row after a social media user said Your Party should not “parrot the same neoliberal idea of gender ideology”.
Hussain responded: “I agree, women's rights and safe spaces should not be encroached upon.
“Safe third spaces should be an alternative option.”
While not mentioning Hussain by name, a few hours later Sultana posted on X: “I’ve always stood with the trans community, and I always will.
They're not biologically women, hence trans-women.
— Adnan Hussain MP (@AdnanHussainMP) August 31, 2025
“The same forces targeting migrants and Muslims are attacking LGBTQ+ people, especially trans people.
“Our safety is in solidarity. None of us are free until all of us are free.
“That’s the new party we’re building. Bigotry has no place in it.”
So far, Corbyn has not addressed the issue online. In April, he said he was “really saddened by the level of vitriol and hatred being directed towards the trans community” and that “we are losing our common humanity”, following the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex.
A video posted by Hussain, where he embraced Corbyn ahead of a Your Party event in Blackburn, prompted many social media users to demand the party set out its policy in regards to trans rights immediately.
India Willoughby wrote: “I honestly think @zarahsultana (who I have faith in) and @jeremycorbyn need to make a statement about @AdnanHussainMP and trans rights.
“My community is living in very real fear at the moment. Terrifying. We are sick to the back teeth of hearing trans hate is a ‘point of view’.”
Another added: “Pro-trans sentiment from @jeremycorbyn and @zarahsultana means absolutely NOTHING if they do not take a stand against Adnan Hussain's self-described social conservatism and his transphobic framing of ‘gender ideology’ as clashing with ‘women's rights’.”
One shared Hussain’s video, adding: “Grim. Openly transphobic and anti abortion and is welcomed in with open arms to a party that wants to be the ‘voice of the left’. Not for me.”
“If you're welcoming in anti-abortion and anti-trans MPs like Hussain then you're not a committed socially left party,” another added.
Hussain also voted against decriminalising abortion, and has 15% shares in a real estate firm.
