Preston councillor Carol Henshaw has said she could no longer remain in the Labour Party under the leadership of Keir Starmer, describing the party’s current direction as deeply disappointing. She spoke to Socialist Worker about her decision to leave Labour and her enthusiasm for the new political initiative associated with Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana.
Henshaw formally left the Labour Party last week, becoming the fourth councillor to join the Preston Independent group.
She said her decision was driven by a series of policy and political disagreements, including cuts affecting pensioners, the continuation of the two-child benefit cap, measures targeting people on benefits, and what she described as restrictions on democratic rights and the freedom to protest. She also criticised Labour’s stance on the war in Gaza.
“This is not the party I joined when Jeremy Corbyn was leader,” she said, adding that the values she once associated with Labour no longer reflected its current leadership.
Henshaw also referred to events last year involving what she believed to be a private WhatsApp conversation with colleagues about Palestine. Messages from that exchange were later shared more widely, leading to allegations of antisemitism against her, which she strongly rejects. She said the accusations came from an individual she described as engaging in bullying behaviour and anti-Palestinian racism.
In March, she had the Labour whip removed and was suspended from the party. She said the disciplinary process left her in uncertainty for months, with no resolution until after the May local elections, by which point it was clear she would not regain her cabinet position.
She described the experience as being left “in limbo” and said that while she had already made the decision to leave Labour, she initially hoped to do so only after clearing her name of what she called malicious allegations.
Henshaw said joining the new Corbyn-Sultana project has renewed her political optimism, adding that she believes it offers a chance to rebuild a movement rooted in social justice, accountability, and genuine democratic participation.
“I find it deeply upsetting to be labelled a racist,” Carol said. “Opposing Zionism is not the same as opposing Jewish people.”
Carol explained that after Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana announced the launch of Your Party last month, she quickly signed up and attended a local meeting. “That was the moment I knew it was time to make the move,” she said.
Interest in the new initiative appears to be growing rapidly. More than 800,000 people have joined the Your Party mailing list, suggesting strong support for a left-wing electoral alternative to the Labour Party.
Polling also points to significant potential backing. A recent survey conducted by Ipsos found that one in five adults in Britain said they would be either “very” or “fairly likely” to vote for a new left-wing party established by Corbyn and Sultana.
Speaking to Socialist Worker, Carol said joining the project had restored a sense of optimism. “I genuinely feel hopeful again,” she said. “The last time I felt like this was in 2016, when three generations of my family joined Labour because of Jeremy Corbyn.”
She contrasted the political landscape in Lancashire, noting that while Lancashire County Council is now controlled by Reform UK, Preston City Council remains under Labour leadership.
Carol highlighted Preston’s national reputation for the Preston Model, which focuses on keeping wealth within the local economy rather than flowing to large external corporations. She said the council has also taken steps to promote the real living wage, support breakfast clubs, address fuel poverty, and explore new council housing projects. During her time in office, she held responsibility for climate change.
She has now joined three Preston Independents serving on the county council—Michael Lavalette, Almas Razakazi, and Yousuf Motala. While operating at different levels of local government, they have pledged to work collaboratively in what they describe as the interests of Preston’s residents.
Michael Lavalette said the group was pleased to welcome Carol, adding that her experience and commitment would strengthen their shared efforts.
