George Galloway’s victory is a humiliation for Keir Starmer
George Galloway’s gorgeous victory within the Rochdale by-election is nothing lower than a humiliation for Sir Keir Starmer.
Despite driving excessive within the opinion polls and benefiting from native affection for the late MP Sir Tony Lloyd, the Labour chief someway contrived to lose a protected seat to some of the poisonous figures in British politics.
Galloway, who ran on a pro-Gaza, anti-Starmer platform, claimed his victory marked a shift which might be replicated in ‘a rating of constituencies’. He stated: ‘Labour is on discover that they’ve misplaced the boldness of hundreds of thousands of their voters who loyally and historically voted for them.’
In uncooked electoral phrases that’s pushing it. Galloway’s ‘Workers’ Party’ is little greater than a automobile for his personal ambitions. It has few sources and fewer candidates – and none along with his distinctive present for rabble-rousing.
Workers Party of Britain candidate George Galloway speaks after being declared the winner within the Rochdale by-election
The Workers’ Party may deprive Starmer of hundreds of votes. Sir Keir Starmer seen the morning after George Galloway gained the election
Deputy Labour Party chief Angela Rayner, speaks on the Convention of the North
Elections professional Professor Sir John Curtice stated it was ‘unlikely’ anybody would have the ability to repeat the trick and take a Labour seat. But that’s not the entire story.
The Workers’ Party will not win a string of Labour seats on the election. But it may deprive Starmer of hundreds of votes – and it’ll place him below stress over Gaza.
The result’s a reminder that Gaza has change into a reside rail for the Labour Party. And given the disaster is just not going away, Starmer must discover a higher means of managing his get together’s method if he desires to keep away from extra shocks. In the run-up to yesterday’s vote, one senior Labour determine informed the Mail Rochdale was ‘the litmus check for whether or not the get together can hold on to the Muslim vote’.
Labour candidate for Rochdale, Azhar Ali, who was revealed to have made anti-Israel feedback
The ex-Labour MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant pictured voting in Rochdale on Thursday
In the occasion, Labour’s vote merely collapsed, plunging from greater than 50 per cent of the vote in 2019 to simply 7.7 per cent.
There have been distinctive elements in Rochdale, however these have been largely of Labour’s personal making. In its rush to carry the by-election earlier than Galloway may acquire momentum, Labour didn’t do due diligence by itself candidate.
Azhar Ali, an area Labour council chief, had been thought-about a protected pair of palms. But diligent work by The Mail on Sunday revealed he had launched into an anti-Israel and, in components, anti-Semitic rant in entrance of different senior members of the North West Labour Party, none of whom batted an eyelid.
Even then, Labour initially backed him, earlier than lastly withdrawing assist, albeit too late to forestall him being recognized because the Labour candidate on the poll paper. The different consequence of Galloway’s victory can be to inflame the already poisonous public debate over Gaza.
His charmless deputy Chris Williamson – one other former Labour MP – set the tone when he refused to sentence Hamas for the October 7 assaults on Israel.
Galloway has described the slaughter as a ‘focus camp breakout’.
No surprise the British Board of Deputies described his victory as a ‘darkish day’ for British Jews. Many will consider they might have gone additional and described it merely as a darkish day for Britain.
