JEREMY Corbyn has been urged to speed up the founding of his new party and help field candidates at next year’s Holyrood elections.
The call comes from organisers and members of the fledgling Your Party Glasgow – the first Scottish branch of the new party currently being set up by Corbyn and ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana – after a packed first meeting yesterday.
Over 200 Glaswegians packed out the Renfield Centre on the city’s Bath Street on Friday evening.
The National understands that one of the main topics of discussion at the meeting was the importance of fielding candidates at next year’s Holyrood elections in May.
On a visit to Glasgow last month, Corbyn said he “fancies his chances” in Scotland given the “number of supporters we’ve got” as well as the “power and the simplicity of the message”.
But the party is still yet to be officially launched, with Your Party just an interim name and technically no official leader yet.
“I fully appreciate why it's taking time, because they desperately want to get it right and not waste the opportunity. But at the same time, I think the message is Scotland is ready to go. Set up an interim committee, get us a conference, and we'll do the rest,” one of Your Party Glasgow’s organisers told The National.
“Westminster needs to catch up. They need to announce a name, they need to announce founding conferences around the country. There's real-time pressure.”
They added: “We don't have access to 40,000 names on a database, but if you can – just by word of mouth – get 200 people to come on a rainy Friday night when there's a Scotland game on – there's a fucking movement there. They need to get their finger out.”
The source went on to say that a huge worry for them right now is that the Westminster arm won’t keep pace with the grassroots demand.
“There is a movement, and there are people willing to come out. There are the organisers, there are the door knockers, there are the campaigners. The chairs and treasurers, we're all here,” they said.
“I know they need to do it right, because it is literally a once-in-a-generation opportunity to start a party on the left that is genuinely powerful.
“But if they don't do it then I am really worried that people kind of lose faith. Particularly in Scotland because we've got elections in 8 months and the lack of urgency around that.”
Meanwhile, another Your Party Glasgow source told The National that it was clear from the meeting that people want to be able to “build something we can vote for next year”.
They added: “Yes, that will take time. But we’re looking at Reform winning seats while we sit on the sidelines. Members won’t be able to stomach that.
“As things progress towards the end of this year a process for choosing local candidates and holding them accountable will have to be a first priority.
“We’ve obviously got people committed who want to campaign. There’s no question we’ll get votes. Things just need to be in place.”
