Losing party says ‘Galloway only won because Labour did not stand’ and calls him ‘a damaging force in our public life’Full story: George Galloway wins Rochdale byelectionLabour says George Galloway is “only interested in stoking fear and division”.In a statement issued about the byelection result, the party apologised to the people of Rochdale for the fact that it did not have a proper candidate. (Azhar Ali, who was selected as Labour’s candidate, was disowned by the party after nominations closed because it was revealed that he had made antisemitic comments after the Hamas attack on Gaza. But it was too late to change nominations, and so he was listed as a Labour candidate on the ballot paper.) A Labour spokesperson said:We deeply regret that the Labour party was unable to field a candidate in this byelection and apologise to the people of Rochdale. George Galloway only won because Labour did not stand.Rochdale deserved the chance to vote for an MP that would bring communities together and deliver for working people. George Galloway is only interested in stoking fear and division. As an MP he will be a damaging force in our communities and public life.I think Mr Tice has rather lost his balance, and Mr [Nigel] Farage too, and I remind Mr Tice that I have on my telephone a text from him inviting me to be the Reform UK candidate in a by-election not that long ago.I’d prefer not to publish it, but if he keeps telling lies about me I will have to tell the truth about him.Absolutely none. Ask the police, ask the police if a single one of our supporters has been arrested or spoken to by them. Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/mar/01/rochdale-byelection-live-george-galloway-declares-a-shifting-of-the-tectonic-plates-after-landslide-win
Author : Andrew Sparrow (now) and Jonathan Yerushalmy (earlier)
Publish date : 2024-03-01 09:56:34
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Rochdale byelection live: Labour ‘apologises to the people of Rochdale’ after George Galloway victory
