Jeremy Corbyn makes frank admission after embarrassing row over new party

Jeremy Corbyn admitted "we haven't covered ourselves in glory" after a bitter feud erupted within his new left-wing party. The former Labour leader apologised to supporters for "the confusion in getting to this point" as he relaunched Your Party's membership portal.

The Islington North MP became embroiled in a public row with Zarah Sultana last week after she unveiled a system to take payments to become a member, prompting him to warn it was "unauthorised" and urge people not to join. The Coventry South MP went on to claim she faced a "sexist boys' club" and to instruct "specialist defamation lawyers", but she later dropped the legal action and vowed to "reconcile" with Mr Corbyn.

In a video message today launching an "official" membership portal, Mr Corbyn urged backers to "move on" and sign up as founding members ahead of the party's inaugural conference in November.

He said: "We've had some fraught days in the last week, as you will no doubt be very aware. And to be honest, we haven't covered ourselves in glory.

"But what is most important is this: We all agree about the plans for the conference and the road map to get to it.

"Before all the commotion last week, the plans themselves were warmly welcomed right across our movement.

"People desperately want the chance for a real alternative, an alternative to poverty, to war and injustice.

"So let's get on with it. Today you can turn your support into real membership. Our official membership portal is now open."

He continued: "To all our supporters, I'm sorry for the confusion in getting to this point. Together, all of us, let's move on to the next stage."

Mr Corbyn also promised that "your data, your membership payments, will be secure".

The veteran left-winger last week told people to cancel any direct debits set up in response to Ms Sultana's membership drive, and Your Party referred itself to the UK's data protection watchdog after data was collected and payments taken.

The party on Wednesday announced its founding conference will be held in Liverpool on November 29 and 30.

Your Party, which is yet to decide on an official name, is seen as a potential challenger to Labour, Reform UK and the Green Party.

The new political outfit was previously embroiled in claims of a row after Ms Sultana appeared to take Mr Corbyn by surprise when she announced she was leaving Labour and starting the new party with him.