Gaza, Galloway, gas.. it’s anyone’s guess
George Galloway is jumping on the Gaza bandwagon but there is a lot that needs improving in Rochdale
MOHAMMED AZIZ, 44
The controversy will blow over, this is a Labour town GEORGE RAMSBOTTOM, 81
ALL eyes are on Rochdale today as it holds one of the most contentious, controversial and chaotic by-elections in history.
Triggered by the death of Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd last month, the race for the Greater Manchester town has had candidates disowned, ditched and drop out.
The Labour candidate Azhar Ali is now running as an independent after his alleged antisemitic remarks online.
The Greens pulled out over their own historic social media posts, and the Tory candidate was on holiday until a week ago.
Now there are 11 runners in total, including my former Bradford West MP George Galloway, famously known for his proPalestine stance (and pretending to be a cat on Big Brother).
And then there’s former Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who was suspended from the party in 2015 over allegations he shared sexually explicit texts with a 17-year-old and is standing for the Reform UK party.
So what do the people of Rochdale really think about such a shambles?
The town has a sizeable Muslim community and Bangladeshi pensioner Sayed Hussain, 72, says: “George Galloway cares about Muslims and he makes us feel listened to. There is a lot of support here for him.”
But not everyone is convinced. Retired teacher Jennifer Shooter, 79, says: “No, we certainly don’t want George Galloway. He doesn’t care about the people of Rochdale, he just wants to be an MP.”
She is putting her faith in independent candidate David Tully because he is local.
“I know his family,” she says. “We need someone who cares about what’s going on here.”
But Laila Rashid, 45, says of Mr Galloway: “He is the only one who cares about Muslims and the Palestinians and he has always supported them.
“It is absolutely horrific PRO-ALI Mr Akerele
I can’t afford to put the heating on, that’s why I’m out in town. I can’t stay in when it is so cold
JULIE HOGAN, 63
how much the people of Gaza are suffering and it feels like the international community just doesn’t care.”
Mobile phone shop manager Khalid Hussain says: “There is a total backlash against Labour and Keir Starmer on Israel. We don’t feel angry, we feel heartbroken.”
But Olatunde Akerele, 58, says: “Even though Labour have withdrawn support I know (Azhar) Ali to be a Labour man through and through who cares about the working people and our workingclass town.”
For Julie Hogan, 63, the cost of living is her prime
concern. She says: “It
is absolutely horrendous. I would never vote Tory, they just don’t care about us and they are ones who have caused this crisis.” But Mohammed Aziz, 44, said he was going against the grain by voting Tory. He added: “We need someone who can bring in the money to the area.”
On my way out of Rochdale I see Mr Danczuk atop a blue bus campaigning. He clearly thinks he has only one rival. “Let’s stand together to make sure George Galloway doesn’t get in. Let’s send him to back wherever he comes from,” he bellows. Well, tackling immigration is one of his manifesto promises.