Political Thinking with Nick Robinson Zarah Sultana
Oct 31, 2025
Zarah Sultana, an independent MP and former Labour member, shares her journey into politics shaped by a life-changing trip to the West Bank. She discusses her new left-wing party with Jeremy Corbyn, emphasizing its need to address austerity and working-class anger. Sultana critiques NATO, advocates for a single democratic state in Palestine, and warns against the rise of figures like Nigel Farage. Balancing ambition with humility, she likens her party's goals to iconic bands, revealing her passion for politics while enjoying football and pop music in her downtime.
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Let Members Decide Party Structure
- Build the new party with member-led democracy, including votes on governance and finance at conference.
- Let members decide structures like single or co‑leadership rather than top‑down imposition.
Neoliberalism Fuels Right‑Wing Resentment
- Sultana links rising right-wing working-class support to decades of neoliberal policies and austerity.
- She argues scapegoating minorities diverts attention from economic decisions that harmed ordinary people.
Argues For Diplomacy Over NATO Militarism
- Sultana proposes leaving NATO and pursuing a diplomacy-led internationalism focused on climate and peace.
- She criticises NATO's links to arms firms and the pressure to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP.