George Galloway by-election – live: Rochdale MP hits back at ‘little Rishi Sunak’ after PM calls win ‘alarming’

Sunak takes aim at Starmer: ‘We expel antisemites, he makes them Labour candidates’

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George Galloway has hit back at “little Rishi Sunak” after the prime minister described his victory in the chaotic Rochdale by-election as alarming and criticised him for having “backed Hezbollah”.

The newly elected Workers Party MP told Sky News: “You talk as if this is God. We’re talking about little Rishi Sunak, in the fag end of his prime ministership. Don’t talk to me as if he’s come down from the Mount with tablets of stone.”

It came after Mr Galloway’s deputy, Chris Williamson, refused to condemn the 7 October Hamas terror attacks on Israel, telling the BBC: “You can’t expect to live in a situation where people have been oppressed for 75 years and not expect a reaction.”

Following a chaotic contest in which both Labour and the Greens disavowed their candidates, Mr Galloway took 12,335 votes to become the only MP for the party he founded in 2019.

Mr Sunak’s criticisms came in a speech outside No 10 on Friday evening, in which the PM warned protests had “descended into intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence”, and vowed to back the police in “taking action”.

Show latest update 1709302361Galloway is fostering ‘politics of division’, Michael Gove says

George Galloway is “fostering a politics of division” at a time when the UK needs to come together, Michael Gove has said.

The levelling up secretary congratulated Mr Galloway on his “democratic” election but voiced his opposition to the tactics the Workers Party leader used to win the Rochdale by-election.

Speaking at the Convention of the North event in Leeds, Mr Gove said: “You have got to respect a democratic vote, so I congratulate George Galloway on his victory, but I am fundamentally opposed to the platform on which George Galloway stood.

“I think that he is fostering a politics of division when we need to come together. I think that his position on the Middle East, the approach that he has taken towards that conflict, is not going to contribute to peace in the Middle East and is certainly not going to contribute towards reconciliation, bridge-building and countering prejudice here in the UK.

“So, it’s a regrettable moment and it only reinforces the government’s determination to counter extremism and build cohesion.”

(Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 14:12

1709301304Andy Burnham – Rochdale hasn’t been neglected by mayor’s office

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has rejected suggestions that Rochdale has been neglected following an ugly by-election campaign.

Speaking at a press conference in Leeds at the Convention of the North event, Mr Burnham said: “It simply isn’t the case that Rochdale has been neglected. It’s not been neglected by anybody in Greater Manchester.

“If you look at the town centre with the new interchange and the work the council has done to bring new investment, the plans for Atom Valley which will be a cluster of high-skilled employment or think about the fact that in three weeks’ time the biggest change to public transport in England this year is coming to Rochdale with the arrival of the Bee (transport) Network, and this is a major achievement.

“At a time when other things have been going backwards in the country, we have been working in Greater Manchester to bring major changes that will benefit the people of Rochdale.”

Andy Burnham Mayor of Greater Manchester during a press conference at the Convention of the North

(Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 13:55

1709300514Tories sold £25k dinner with chancellor to party donors days before Budget

The Conservatives sold dinners with the chancellor to party donors days before the Budget.

A Japanese meal with Jeremy Hunt and up to three guests was auctioned off for £25,000 at the Tories’ Winter Party at Westminster’s Old War Office hotel, the Daily Mirror reports.

A signed picture of the cabinet was also sold for £115,000.

(Paul Ellis/PA Wire)

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 13:41

1709298533George Galloway reacts angrily when asked how much he cares about Rochdale

George Galloway responded angrily when asked by a reporter how much he really cared about Rochdale.

“I hope you didn’t practice that question, did you? You fool. What are you, a student journalist?” said Mr Galloway, adding: “The people just elected me. How dare you?”

Mr Galloway declared “this is for Gaza” in his victory speech, and added that “above all” his win was a message for Keir Starmer and the Labour party.

Andy Gregory1 March 2024 13:08

1709296832George Galloway’s craziest moments – from Big Brother cat antics to hailing Saddam Hussein

The clock had not yet struck 3am when a grinning George Galloway again took to the centre stage of a by-election result, this time in Rochdale.

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 12:40

1709295632George Galloway’s Trumpian diatribe felled Labour – but it’s a pyrrhic victory for democracy

A man who trades in incendiary language made a mockery of Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, writes Sean O’Grady.

Read Sean’s piece in full here.

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 12:20

1709294829Recap: George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election and declares ‘This is for Gaza’ in huge blow for Labour

Mr Galloway, a former Labour and Respect party MP, took almost 40 per cent of the vote and a majority of almost 5,700.

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 12:07

1709293688Starmer issues personal apology to voters in Rochdale

Keir Starmer vowed to put up a “first class” candidate in Rochdale at the general election as he apologised to voters for his party’s campaign in the seat.

The Labour leader also insisted that George Galloway only won because his party didn’t campaign in the Greater Manchester town after disowning its candidate Azhar Ali.

“I regret that we had to withdraw our candidate, and I apologise to voters in Rochdale,” Starmer told broadcasters.

“I took that decision, it was the right decision, and when I say I’ve changed the Labour Party, I mean it.”

File photo: Keir Starmer in the Commons

(PA Wire)

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 11:48

1709292804Rochdale by-election: Scores on the doors

(PA Wire)

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 11:33

1709291132Ministers urged to stick with manifesto commitment on conversion therapy ban

Ministers have been urged to fulfil their manifesto commitment and back the ban on conversion therapy proposed by Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle.

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) told the Commons: “On January 21, 2023, I laid an amendment to the (Online Safety Bill) on conversation therapy. We had the numbers, however I said to the Government if you say in a written ministerial statement, and if you will say on the floor of this House, that you will commit to pre-legislative scrutiny that will be completed by October, I will not move the amendment.

“I didn’t move the amendment because that commitment was given to the House. Does he therefore agree that we have been brought to this place because the Government has not delivered on its manifesto commitment despite having made promises on the floor of this House to Conservative MPs?”

Mr Russell-Moyle replied: “I quite agree and that is why I do think it is important that the Government supports this going to committee to thrash out the details later on.”

File photo: Lloyd Russell-Moyle

(PA Archive)

Matt Mathers1 March 2024 11:05