Galloway's pledge to shake up local political scene

GEORGE Galloway's victory in the Rochdale by-election has sent shockwaves through the country.

- JOSEPH TIMAN

The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant has promised a 'revival' of the town, which he says has 'pioneered a redrawing of the political map' in the UK.

But the strange circumstances of this by-election, dramatic from the get-go, makes it difficult to gauge whether the shock result will be repeated elsewhere.

As for Rochdale, his stint as the MP may be brief with a general election on the horizon.

The Workers Party of Britain leader's first words after the results were declared were for the Labour Party leader. He told Keir Starmer, 'this is for Gaza, before saying he will fight to bring maternity services and A&E back to the town, as well as saving the football club.

Mr Galloway won nearly 40 per cent of the vote, beating Labour's disowned candidate Azhar Ali by around 10,000 votes. It came after the party stopped campaigning for Mr Ali, who apologised for 'deeply offensive' claims he made about Israel before he was selected.

Mr Ali came fourth in the 11-man race, behind the Conservatives and independent candidate Dave Tulley, who secured more votes than the two parties combined. Labour, If we [win c as well] we Rochdale a Rochda George which held the seat from 2010 until the sudden death of Sir Tony Lloyd in January, apologised to the voters of Rochdale, claiming Mr Galloway 'only won because Labour did not stand! But Rochdale's new MP, who will return to Parliament to represent his fourth constituency in 20 years, said his victory is going to 'start a movement' across the country.

He later revealed his party is planning to field 59 candidates at the general election later this year - and he hopes the win will encourage independent candidates to come forward and take on Labour elsewhere in the UK, too.