Jeremy Corbyn confirms talks about forming new party with Zarah Sultana

Corbyn says discussions are ongoing' after MP's surprise announcement but he is understood to be reluctant to take title of party leader

Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he is in discussions about creating a new leftwing political party, hours after the MP Zarah Sultana announced she was quitting Labour to co-lead the project.

Sultana, the MP for Coventry South who had the Labour whip suspended last year for voting against the government over the two-child limit on benefits, said on Thursday night she was quitting Labour and would co-lead the founding of a new party" with Corbyn.