For those out of the loop, this is the holding name for former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s new political party. It has already become mired in the egotism of its leaders, with suggestions of a rift between Corbyn and co-founder Zarah Sultana.

If Reform represents the shaking up of right-wing politics in Britain, this is the left-wing’s response – albeit at a far less sophisticated stage, even despite Reform’s recent issues.

So what this meeting represented, rather than a formal look at how Your Party would work for Thanet, was an effort to demonstrate the “bottom-up” grassroots approach promised by Corbyn.

Organiser Norman Thomas opened the meeting, asking: “What might this new party have to offer for us here in Thanet and East Kent? And more importantly, what do we want from it? What do we want it to do?”

Sadly, answers to these questions were not forthcoming on a night that largely focused on national left-wing politics.

Ken Loach addressed the meeting via Zoom.

“The need for this party to succeed cannot be overstated,” he said.

“There's never been a moment in my lifetime that I can think of when the possibility for a serious party of the left, a party that examines the roots of our failing system, has been so great.”

Directing films such as I, Daniel Blake and Kes, Mr Loach is a born and bred socialist. But he expressed his frustrations with previous left-wing movements.

“I don't want to join a party of factions. We need no factions, no cliques, no secrecy,” the winner of two Palme d’Ors at the Cannes Film Festival said.

“Transparency is essential to democracy, and we're not having it, and we should not tolerate it, and that's my worry.

“So let's put an end to it now.”

It was a stirring speech, which triggered a rapturous round of applause from the crowd of 100 or so spectators.

The next speaker, activist and writer Jackie Walker, was suspended from the Labour Party over Facebook comments criticised as antisemitic in 2016 and then expelled in 2019. She denied being antisemitic.

“We got Jeremy Corbyn in, and I'm sure many of us remember that upswell of just joy and excitement that there was, and a feeling of empowerment,” she said.

“What we were faced with after that was the antisemitism witch-hunt, the witch-hunt of the left.

“It gained force, and it's exactly what Starmer also utilised to get rid of us.”

For a group of people condemning other political groups for their hateful views, there were some remarkably vitriolic comments.

“I don't want the Labour Party just on its knees. I want it decimated. I want it dead,” said Jackie.

“I want it never to exist again as a political force.

“But I don't just want the Labour Party dead. I want to see Reform destroyed.

“I want to see the Tory Party, in all their awfulness, destroyed as well.

“By whatever means, we need to get hold of power and make that power ours.”

Next on the podium was Daisy Keens, of Thanet4Palestine.

Daisy’s speech focused primarily on the war in Gaza, certainly a worthy point of discussion, but its relevance to Thanet’s issues is yet to be discovered.

However, her comments about targeting the Turner Contemporary in Margate and the Instro Precision factory in Sandwich were the most local references made all evening.

Referencing a sit-in held by activists at the art gallery in May, she said: “You might ask, why the Turner? The Turner plays a very vital role in shaping the narratives in society.

“And the Turner have said sweet f*** all about Palestine, instead choosing to appease Zionist funders and backers and exercise utter cowardice.

“One of the most notable [protests] was during the Resistance exhibition, which was by Steve McQueen, and it was about how protests shaped Britain.

“They obviously didn't know that we were coming, and rather ironically, they called the police on the protest and had us removed sharply.

“So boycott the Turner, everyone. Please boycott the Turner.”

Turner Contemporary bosses did not comment at the time of the protest. I approached them again this week but did not receive a response.

Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, media officer for what was called Jewish Voice for Labour and is now Jewish Voice for Liberation, spoke of how the need for a new party came from the shift in Labour’s attitudes post-Corbyn.

“The environment changed so rapidly after Starmer entered Number 10. The media allowed Farage to set the political agenda,” she said.

“Labour's accommodation to the far-right on immigration and race, its adoption of the austerity agenda, targeting the weakest in society - its preference for military spending over foreign aid.

“And above all, it's connivance in Israel's genocidal assault on the people of Palestine. It all went further and faster than even the most cynical of us could have predicted.

“I must say I'm not in a position to be able to offer guidance to people in Thanet as to how it will work here locally for you.

“That's entirely up to you and your local communities and your organisations.”

There was also an acknowledgement of how Your Party had suffered issues so far, namely the membership debacle where Corbyn and Sultana’s teams disagreed over the validity of the sign-up process.

With the meeting coming to an end after a few other speakers, everyone shuffled out into the cold streets.

While clearly educated and passionate, the panellists were preaching to the already converted - the majority of whom appeared to be pensioners.

As for what Your Party can do to tackle the issues in Thanet - home to many of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Kent - that remains unclear.