Corbyn and Sultana in row over unauthorised paid membership portal

Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana were locked in a public feud this week after an email promoting a paid membership portal for the new leftwing outfit they are founding prompted Corbyn and several colleagues to warn supporters to ignore the message and cancel any payments, while Sultana insisted the site was legitimate and accused colleagues of freezing her out. The dispute, which unfolded on social media and in statements on Thursday and Friday, led the nascent organisation to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner and prompted threats of legal action that Sultana later said she would not pursue as she sought reconciliation with Corbyn.

The row began when an email was circulated to supporters inviting them to pay between about 25 and 55 pounds to join the movement, using a membership portal that Sultana promoted. She said the portal was safe, secure and legitimate and celebrated large early sign-ups, at one point claiming tens of thousands had registered. Corbyn and four other MPs in the Independent Alliance co-signed a statement saying the email was unauthorised, urging supporters to ignore it and cancel any direct debits, and saying legal advice was being taken....