George Galloway has won the Rochdale by election with the former Labour candidate finishing in fourth place
Galloway took nearly forty per cent of the vote with a majority of 5,700 with the Independent candidate Dave Tully coning second and the Tory candidate third
Galloway used his victory speech to launch a blistering attack on Labour leader Kier Starmer.
“Keir Starmer. This is for Gaza.” he said
adding that his victory is a warning for Keir Starmer that Labour has lost the confidence of their voters.
Labour’s former candidate Azhar Ali finished fourth behind the Tories with 2,402 votes – just 7.7% of the vote.
The party withdrew backing for him during the campaign, but too late to take him off the ballot as the nominal Labour candidate
A Labour party spokesperson said:
“We deeply regret that the Labour party was unable to field a candidate in this by-election and apologise to the people of Rochdale.George Galloway only won because Labour did not stand.
Rochdale deserved the chance to vote for an
MP that would bring communities together and deliver for working people. George Galloway is only interested in stoking fear and division. As an MP he will be a damaging force in our communities and public life.
The Labour party will quickly begin the process to select a new Labour candidate for the general election, and will be campaigning hard to deliver the representation and fresh start that Rochdale deserves.”
