By-election banner torn down
POLICE are investigating after a person was caught on camera tearing down a banner calling for support for George Galloway in the Rochdale by-election. They were seen putting it in their car and driving away.
Video of the incident has been shared on social media.
Mr Galloway’s team has slammed ‘any and all attempts to vandalise and intimidate’.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said the force is aware and is investigating the incident, understood to have happened on Yorkshire Street.
Footage shows a person taking the banner – in the colours of the Palestine flag – from the side of Sahara restaurant, before stuffing it in their boot. It it understood the incident happened at around 1.20am on Monday (February 19).
A spokesperson for the George Galloway campaign said: “We condemn any and all attempts to vandalise and intimidate during an election. We hope that Greater
Manchester Police will do everything in their power to ensure that they use the full force of the law to catch this person.”
Mr Galloway is standing in the by-election on Thursday, February 29, following the death of incumbent Labour MP Tony Lloyd.
The full list of candidates, as they will appear on the ballot papers, is as follows:
Azhar Ali, Labour Party; Mark Coleman; Simon Danczuk, Reform UK; Iain Donaldson, Liberal Democrats; Paul Ellison, The Conservative Party Candidate; George Galloway, Workers Party of Britain; Michael Howarth; William Howarth, Independent; Guy Otten, Green Party; Ravin Subortna, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party; David Tully, Independent