LONDON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn announced on Friday via social media platform X that he is joining forces with ex-Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Zarah Sultana to launch a new political party.

In a public statement, Corbyn congratulated Sultana on her decision to leave the Labour Party a day earlier and criticized the current Labour leadership for "refusing to deliver the change people expected and deserved."

"Our country needs to change direction, now," Corbyn said.

Sultana said on Thursday that she would found a new party with her former leader, adding that it would also include other independent MPs and political activists.

After being sidelined by the Labour Party under current leader Keir Starmer, Corbyn has served as an independent MP for Islington North. Last year, he joined four other independently elected MPs to form an alliance in the House of Commons. ■