Controversial left-wing politician George Galloway has won the Rochdale by-election by a significant margin of 12,335 votes. Galloway ran on a pro-Palestine campaign, criticizing Labour leader Keir Starmer for his stance on the Gaza conflict, which has claimed the lives of over 30,000 people in the past five months. Galloway accused both Labour and the Conservatives of supporting Israel and promised to advocate for Gaza if elected.
The campaign was marked by tension, with Labour withdrawing support from its candidate due to anti-Israel comments. Galloway’s victory speech included scathing remarks towards Starmer and Conservative politician Rishi Sunak, calling them “two cheeks of the same backside” and claiming they both were “well and truly spanked” in the election.
Despite local concerns typically dominating by-elections, Israel’s war on Gaza became a central issue in this case. Galloway’s landslide win is seen as a rebuke to mainstream political parties and a significant victory for those advocating for Palestinian rights.
Galloway’s win in Rochdale highlights growing support for pro-Palestinian voices in the UK and could potentially signal a shift in the country’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Galloway’s strong stance on Gaza resonated with the constituency’s substantial Muslim population, leading to his decisive victory.
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