George Galloway victory in Rochdale by-election a ‘dark day for British Jews

Divisive left-wing firebrand George Galloway has won the Rochdale by-election, declaring: “This is for Gaza.”

I’ m not surprised he won. What does surprise me, and pleasantly so, is that in second place was an independent candidate, a local man campaigning on the issues of dangerous traffic and a threat to Rochdale FC the local football team. Very local issues, from a well respected motor mechanic who didn’t have the benefit of any professional help. But even he, to the best of my knowledge, kept away from the issue of the rape and prostitution grooming gangs and the lack of proper punishment of the Muslim perpetrators. 

It was a very low turn out of 39% which is pathetic for such an important election, where the Labour candidate was dropped due to his anti-semetism and George Galloway openly campaigned for Muslim interests generally and Gaza specifically.

He claimed a victory for him could force “supporter of Israel” Keir Starmer out

A  highly inflammatory leaflet, addressed to the “voters of Muslim faith in Rochdale” sent by Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain also claims Labour has “betrayed” Muslims by supporting Israel’s “genocide”.

In the letter,  Galloway claims he has “fought for Muslims at home and abroad’”for all of his life and “paid a price for it”.

“I, George Galloway, have always come to the side of the people of Palestine in their agony – and am doing so again now as Gaza is burning – tried to save the people of Iraq, and fight against all wars. If Labour lose this by-election, Sir Keir Starmer could well be forced out as Labour leader. Sir Keir Starmer, a top supporter of Israel, out. Imagine – the people of Rochdale coming together to topple the hated Labour leader. We have the power to do that. It’s in your hands, brothers and sisters.”

Galloway begins and ends the letter with the Arabic phrase A’Salaam o Aleukum,  before turning to the war in Gaza, saying it has “shocked” the “ummah”.

Obviously the Muslim population got up and voted (and harvested the postal votes) and not enough others did. From  Yahoo News Photograph from The Independent. 

A leading Jewish organisation has branded George Galloway’s Rochdale by-election win a “dark day” for British Jews as Labour apologised to voters for not fielding a candidate after it suffered a heavy defeat.

Galloway, who’s Worker’s Party of Britain secured almost 40% of the vote after his pro-Palestinian campaign, declared “this is for Gaza” and warned Labour leader Keir Starmer he will pay a “high price” over his views on the conflict. “Keir Starmer – this is for Gaza. And you will pay a high price, in enabling, encouraging and covering for, the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Palestine in the Gaza Strip,” Galloway told supporters in his victory speech. He later said: “I think Keir Starmer has woken up this morning to his worst nightmare.”

Labour insisted Galloway only won “because Labour did not stand”,

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “George Galloway is a demagogue and conspiracy theorist who has brought the politics of division and hate to every place he has ever stood for Parliament. His election is a dark day for the Jewish community in this country and for British politics in general.”

It was a nasty campaign, even by modern standards. This is Richard Tice of Reform on the irregualrities and intimidation around polling day. Unfortunately while Reform as a party have good candidates elsewhere, and a lot of proposals that I agree, with their candidate for Rochdale was not ideal. As a new party I suspect they were seduced by the idea of a former MP with experience of Parliament and the system.  However this particular candidate’s history was flawed. 

Now the polls have closed, people across the UK need to know the truth about this election campaign – and the implications for our democracy. To suggest that a parliamentary election in this country has not been truly free and fair is a very serious allegation indeed.

In recent weeks, Reform UK’s candidate and campaign team has: – been subjected to death threats – suffered vile racist abuse – been refused entry to hustings in a public building – had to be relocated for their own safety – suffered daily intimidation and slurs…

In one incident, Reform UK business supporters were threatened with a firebomb attack if they distributed our leaflets. Menacing behaviour was a feature of the entire campaign, including outside polling stations on the day of the election itself. In this ugliest of contests, we are also concerned by the sudden increase in the size of the postal vote…

The results of the Rochdale by-election should act as a stark wake up call to those in power – and the entire electorate. . .Unless something dramatic changes, our fear is that it will be repeated in dozens of constituencies across the UK at the general election. By Christmas, we face the prospect of numerous extremist anti-Semitic lawmakers in the House of Commons.

In a video message sent to Mr Danczuk, a man allegedly referred to him as “a white devil” and threatened to “put one in his head”. Greater Manchester Police said on Tuesday that it had arrested a 23-year-old on suspicion of malicious communication.

Mr Galloway has claimed that posters and leaflets for his party were torn down. He denied his supporters had engaged in any intimidation, and claimed on Sky News that Mr Tice had invited him to be a Reform UK candidate in a recent by-election.

Reform UK has lodged a formal complaint about supporters of Mr Galloway handing out leaflets outside polling stations.

The man once known as Gorgeous George, on account of his extramarital activities, rebranded himself as Gaza George for this bizarrest of by-elections.

He did say that this was the last election he would contest as he has a second (or third) young family with his latest wife and if he serves a 5 years term then nearly 75 bis a good age to retire. However that suggests that he will stand again if a General Election is called this year.

In North Ilford the candidate standing in the next election hoping to unseat Wes Streeting is Leanne Mohammed, standing on a Pro-Palestinian ticket. She is ostensibly ‘an Independent’ but she was selected by a panel of possibles by the Redbridge Community Action Group who may not be a party, but are certainly not an individual. I personally don’t think we will see a dedicated Islamic Party yet (and hopefully the will be too fragmented and sectarian to form a party) but we will see individuals and small groups of Muslims standing and finding common ground amongst themselves. And they will get the backing of their mosques.