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George Galloway strikes blow 'for Gaza' in Rochdale by-election

1 March 2024 09:49 GMT

Veteran left-wing politician George Galloway is set to return to the UK parliament after winning Thursday's Rochdale by-election in a vote dominated by the refusal of the UK's main parties to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

Galloway, representing the Workers Party of Britain, won almost 40 percent of the votes and nearly 6,000 more votes than his nearest rival.

Speaking after the results were announced, Galloway took aim at both opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is facing growing dissent in his own party over his failure to support an immediate ceasefire, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

"Keir Starmer - this is for Gaza," said Galloway, who was a Labour MP from 1987 until he was expelled from the party in 2003 over his opposition to the Iraq war.

READ MORE: George Galloway strikes blow 'for Gaza' in Rochdale by-election

George Galloway won in Rochdale with almost 40 percent of the vote (Workers Party of Britain/X)
George Galloway won in Rochdale with almost 40 percent of the vote (Workers Party of Britain/X)