News Writer Sofiya Povoas reports on Galloway claiming Rochdale.
On 19th February 2024, key figure in British Politics, George Galloway, re-emerged to claim a sizable victory in the Rochdale by-election.
A veteran of British politics and a member of the Worker’s Party in the UK, Galloway was able to win his fourth seat in Parliament with 39.7% of the vote. In second place was an Independent candidate, with the Conservatives and Labour placing below. This is significant as the major parties failed to secure either first or second place in a major by-election.
This comes prior to a general election which is likely to be held this year or at the very start of 2025. While the Labour party have been polling as of recent at 47% according to YouGov, and the Conservatives at 20%, this by-election result has come as a shock to some political analysts. Galloway described the results as a ‘shifting of the tectonic plates’ away from Labour.
Galloway has had a long and varied career in politics, formerly a member of the Labour party and the Respect party, while also running for several different seats around the country as well as for London mayor. Outside of Parliament, he has been a significant figure in campaigning against the Iraq War in 2001, and currently speaking out about the Israel-Palestine conflict.
This win comes at a time perceived by some as a period of volatility for the major parties and places Labour’s dominance into question for the first time in some time. Labour had previously cut ties with their Rochdale candidate, Azhar Ali, after leader, Keir Starmer, made the decision following comments made about Israel.
Starmer commented, ‘Galloway only won because Labour didn’t stand a candidate’. This refers to the campaign that was cut short in Rochdale three weeks prior to election. He went on to say ‘I regret that we had to withdraw candidates and apologise to voters in Rochdale’.
The resurgence of third parties has been seen more widely over the past year, with this Worker’s Party win, the Liberal Democrats claiming further seats and Lee Anderson’s recent defection to the Reform party, who now have their first seat in Parliament.
Galloway’s comments after the announcement of his victory were largely targeted at Starmer as he commented ‘Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza’. His win proposes somewhat of a changing outlook going into the general election towards the end of the year, with campaigning likely to level up from here on out.
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