JEREMY CORBYN HAS won control of his new party’s leadership committee following a contest with fellow ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana.

Supporters of the former Labour leader won 14 of the 24 seats on Your Party’s central executive committee (CEC), double the seven seats won by Sultana’s backers.

Your Party’s adoption of a collective leadership model last year had been seen as a victory for Sultana, with Corbyn preferring a single leader.

But today’s results mean Corbyn is now likely to be named as the party’s parliamentary leader as it seeks to move on from the infighting that has plagued its foundation.

Corbyn said party members had backed “a mass, socialist party that takes the fight to Starmer and Farage”.

In a statement after the results, he said: “Now, the real work begins.

“We have a precious opportunity to unite our movement around a bold vision for this country – one that creates a more caring, equal and peaceful world for all.

“I look forward to working with all members to make this vision a reality.”

Zarah Sultana Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Some 25,347 of Your Party’s 40,985 verified members voted in the election that saw both Corbyn and Sultana elected to the CEC.

Former Labour MP Laura Smith, who served on Corbyn’s shadow front bench in 2018, was also elected, but Independent Alliance MPs Shockat Adam and Ayoub Khan missed out.

Three candidates that had not been endorsed by either Corbyn’s “The Many” group or Sultana’s “Grassroots Left” slate were also elected.

In a statement, Grassroots Left said it would “work with all those elected who are committed to rebuilding trust by putting the members first and fighting with the branches for accountable, transparent and democratic structures and strong socialist policy choices”.

The group said: “Your Party must now work together to become a party of and for the whole left – with no more witch-hunts or stitch-ups.

“All those who have been expelled should be reinstated. We now need a culture of mutual respect, open debate, and a shared focus on the real issues facing us: inequality, insecure work, crumbling public services, fascism, and a political establishment that keeps letting working people down.”