Of the council’
tion, but warned: “That time may be coming to an end.”
Speaking after the results were announced, Rochdale council leader Neil Emmott said that the death of Sir Tony Lloyd and the subsequent byelection have been ‘difficult’ for the town, saying the race to replace the MP had turned into a ‘circus’.
Writing for the Labourlist website, he said: “The tension and sourness this campaign has brought to Rochdale will not be easily forgotten.”
The town’s former MP Simon Danczuk, who stood as the Reform UK candidate, has made serious allegations about the way the election campaign unfolded.
He claimed that he and his campaign team received death threats and were subject to intimidation.
This rocky period for Rochdale is set to continue as Mr Galloway goes to war with the Labourrun council.
The Observer understands that councillors in Rochdale are concerned about working with their new MP and whether he will continue the work Sir Tony had started.
MPS work with councils on all sorts of matters, from issues affecting residents needing help, to multi-million pound government grants, such as levelling up cash bids which require a local MP’S support.
These relationships have real consequences on constituents.
Thanking those who supported him in the byelection, Mr Galloway promised to ‘work faithfully for all Rochdalians’.
But the message he communicated first and foremost after winning, was one of anger towards the Labour Party from which he was expelled in 2003.
Lots of people have lost faith in politics, with enthusiasm for the big political parties now a rare thing in many parts of Greater Manchester.
The extraordinary circumstances of this byelection surely contributed to the unprecedented outcome with neither Labour nor the Conservatives finishing in the top two - an independent candidate finishing in second place is damning for both.
Exactly what this result will mean for Rochdale remains to be seen.
But one thing is for sure - Mr Galloway wants to shake things up.