Intimidation, threats and a sickening by-election battle
LEFT-WING firebrand George Galloway won the Rochdale by- election yesterday, in a campaign rife with claims of threats and intimidation.
In a deeply embarrassing result for Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Galloway cruised home in what had been a safe Labour seat after he focused on exploiting tensions over Gaza.
The Labour leader issued a grovelling apology to the people of Rochdale after he was forced to withdraw support for Labour’s candidate, Azhar Ali, during the campaign for making remarks considered anti-Semitic.
The election of Mr Galloway sent shockwaves through the Jewish community.
He denies being anti- Semitic but has described the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7 as a ‘concentration camp breakout’.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews called him a ‘demagogue and conspiracy theorist who has brought the politics of division and hate to every place he has ever stood for Parliament’.
A spokesman added: ‘His election is a dark day for the Jewish community in this country and for British politics – we believe he should be shunned as a pariah by all Parliamentarians.’
Mr Galloway’s victory was sullied by claims campaigners and voters faced threats and intimidation.
Independent candidate William Howarth said there was an ‘element of intimidation’ running
‘Record of baiting the Jewish community’
throughout the by-election which followed the death of veteran Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd.
He said he was abused on polling day by a man carrying a Palestine flag who called him ‘a dirty Zionist b*****d’ after seeing his rosette.
Mr Howarth, who has led campaigns against child sex grooming gangs in Rochdale, said he has taken to wearing a stab vest while campaigning after experiencing abuse.
One campaigner claimed some voters in traditional Labour wards were being ‘hounded’ by supporters of Mr Galloway. One man was arrested after an apparent death threat was sent to Simon Danczuk, the town’s former Labour MP who was standing for Reform.
In the most disturbing incident, a racist and expletive-filled video was sent to Mr Danczuk of a man branding him a ‘white devil’ while looking at one of his canvassing leaflets with the slogan ‘ Vote for Rochdale, not Gaza’. The voice said: ‘If you guys ever see this bald motherf****** – I am going to put one in his f****ing head.’
Mr Danczuk, who polled 6.3 per cent, said the intimidation had a ‘chilling effect’ on his campaign and left him wondering whether to continue
in politics. ‘My worry is that with George Galloway now planning on putting up many more candidates at the next general election it will have a chilling effect nationally,’ he said.
Mr Galloway, leader of the Workers’ Party of Britain, denied his supporters had engaged in any intimidation. He last night called claims of intimidation by his supporters a ‘baseless smear’. His victory relied heavily on exploiting
Labour divisions over Gaza in a seat with one of the largest Muslim populations in the country.
In a victory speech, the former Labour MP told Sir Keir: ‘This is for Gaza. You have paid, and you will pay, a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Palestine.’
In a low turnout contest, Mr Galloway took nearly 40 per cent of
the vote, giving him a majority of 5,697. Local independent David Tully came second with 21.3 per cent, well ahead of the Conservatives on 12 per cent. Mr Ali came fourth with less than 8 per cent.
The Campaign Against AntiSemitism said Mr Galloway had ‘an atrocious record of baiting the Jewish community’.
A spokesman said: ‘ We are extremely concerned by how he may use the platform of the House
of Commons in the remaining months of this parliament.’
Sir Keir paved the way for Mr Galloway’s victory when he withdrew support for Mr Ali after The Mail on Sunday unearthed a recording of him making remarks condemned as being anti-Semitic.
The Labour leader initially backed Mr Ali but was eventually forced to drop him in the face of intense media pressure.