SMALLER pro-independence parties in Scotland have reacted with some scepticism to the potential emergence of a new project from Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana.
Last week, the former Labour leader hinted at plans underway that would see the creation of a “left independent party of socialist view[s]”, with suspended Labour MP Sultana announcing she had quit the ruling party to form a new one with Corbyn.
The Islington North MP has been working with an informal group of MPs, named the Independent Alliance, but confirmed on Friday that “discussions are ongoing” to create a new party. No name or any concrete details have been announced.
On Sunday a group called Collective Scotland published a statement suggesting they would be leading the project in Scotland, and would aim to build "a full-fledged electoral alliance of the Scottish left".
Details of both potential parties are still thin on the ground, and Scottish left-wing parties have queried whether the party, if it comes to fruition, will have a chance of breaking through north of the Border.
Collective Scotland has no social media presence or website, and no members have yet gone on the record to set out any details, or how it links to Corbyn’s plans.
A website does exist for Collective, a group that describes itself as a “mass movement for a new left party”, and claims it has helped co-ordinate campaigns for left-wing candidates since 2023.
Its directors are listed as Pamela Fitzpatrick, who describes herself as an independent candidate and trade unionist on her social media, and Karie Murphy, a former executive director of the office of the leader of the opposition under Corbyn.
In Scotland, a source told The National that a “small group of people” had been working since the end of 2024 to meet with other left groups in Scotland about “how to work together”.
The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) said no one from the group had approached them.
On Monday, Green Party of England and Wales leadership contender Zack Polanski said the party should be open to an alliance with Corbyn.
But the Scottish Greens did not seem keen to enter an alliance as had been suggested by Polanski.
MSP Ross Greer said: “Labour is constantly lurching further to the right, but fortunately, Scotland has an organised and successful party on the left, the Scottish Greens
"We are proud eco-socialists and anti-capitalists, committed to the transformation of our society into one which meets the needs of people and planet.
“We have already delivered increased taxes on the super-rich, free bus travel for young people and an emergency rent freeze. With even more Greens in Parliament, we can do much more to tackle the cost of living and climate crises."
The MSP called on people who share his vision to join his party.
Approach to independence
Corbyn and Sultana's new venture also has a vague approach to independence, with the source suggesting this part of policy would be determined by its members, if a party is eventually established.
Some of Scotland’s left-wing parties, who are pro-Yes, said they had concerns with this approach.
“We need to clearly advocate independence if we’re going to further the cause of socialism in Scotland,” Richie Venton, from the SSP, told The National.
He added that defending the right to a second independence referendum is a “good starting point”, but was “far from sufficient, it’s absolutely inadequate”.
Venton added: “I would also say that we as a party have always sought to build maximum unity for socialism.
“But the fact that some tiny handful of people in Scotland are declaring this new party as if it's an established fact, is not only premature, but secondly is problematic when they've been saying that without even having first spoken to the SSP, which is by far the biggest socialist force in Scotland.”
Neale Hanvey, Alba’s deputy leader, said that it was clear there was an “appetite for change” given Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s failure to deliver for working people during his first year in office.
“While it is welcome that there are those on the left who believe that the Scottish Parliament and not Westminster should have the power to call an independence referendum, a new London-based party with a Scottish branch office is not the way forward,” Hanvey added.
“What Scotland needs is a clear route map to independence which is why we are urging independence supporters, however they vote in constituencies, to give their list vote to Alba.”
Elsewhere, Socialist Party Scotland (SPS) welcomed the announcement from Corbyn and Sultana, adding that it “offers an opportunity to create a new mass workers’ party if the correct steps are taken”.
They shared a statement from their sister party, the Socialist Party England and Wales, which said a new workers' party is “vital to combat the right-populists” of Nigel Farage’s Reform.
The SNP and Scottish Communist Party were contacted for comment.
