Imagine launching a project you're passionate about, only to potentially face criminal charges. That's the situation Zarah Sultana, a prominent figure on the UK's political left, finds herself in after the launch of a membership portal for 'Your Party.' The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection watchdog, has suggested that the unauthorized launch might constitute "serious criminal activity" and should be investigated by the police.
But here's where it gets controversial... The seeds of this issue were sown when Jeremy Corbyn's Peace and Justice Project (PJP), the data controller for Your Party, flagged a potential data breach to the ICO last September. The PJP, led by the former Labour leader, raised concerns about how data of Your Party supporters was being handled. The ICO, after reviewing the information, decided it wasn't a matter for them to investigate directly, but instead advised the PJP to consider reporting the matter to Action Fraud (now Report Fraud) and the police, implying a potential crime had been committed.
The backstory is crucial: A significant rift emerged between Corbyn and Sultana after an email blast to 800,000 people on the Your Party mailing list encouraged them to become paid members for £55. Sultana enthusiastically announced the new membership portal on X (formerly Twitter), assuring followers it was "safe and secure" and urging them to persist despite initial technical difficulties due to high traffic. But here's the part most people miss: Corbyn swiftly distanced himself, issuing an "urgent message" advising his followers to disregard the "unauthorised" site, stating that “legal advice is being taken”. This public disagreement highlighted deep divisions within the party.
The ICO's advice to the PJP essentially means they believe the situation warrants a police investigation. They stated that if “serious criminal activity may have occurred”, a police investigation would take precedence over any potential ICO inquiry. A spokesperson for the ICO confirmed that “formal ICO involvement is not required at this time.” This doesn't mean the ICO is dismissing the issue entirely, but rather that they believe law enforcement should investigate first, given the potential severity.
And this is where the story takes another turn... Sultana, on the other hand, has presented a different interpretation. She issued a statement claiming the ICO had “dropped the case around the Your Party membership portal,” suggesting a complete exoneration. On X, she expressed her pleasure that “everyone can now draw a line under the matter.” She further emphasized her focus on campaigning for the party’s upcoming leadership contest, aimed at moving away from what she describes as “Labour right tactics” and empowering members and local branches.
Sultana also highlighted the party's membership size, claiming it to be the largest socialist party in the UK since the 1940s, and reinforced her continued collaboration with Corbyn and other members. Your Party has so far declined to comment on the matter. Could this situation potentially damage the reputation of Your Party, or is this just a minor bump in the road? What do you think? Is Sultana right to say the matter is closed, or is the ICO's advice a serious cause for concern? Is it possible there was a genuine misunderstanding, or is there more to this story than meets the eye? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
