George Galloway, a veteran left-wing firebrand, celebrated victory in a parliamentary election on Friday, directing his attack at the leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer. Galloway’s win in Rochdale, north of Manchester, marked a chaotic campaign emblematic of the anger surrounding the war in Gaza.
The election, held to replace the late Labour Party lawmaker Tony Lloyd, saw Galloway secure a clear victory with 12,335 votes. A former Labour member, Galloway founded the far-left Workers Party of Britain and has a history of fierce rhetoric and generating publicity.
Galloway’s win in Rochdale was made easier after Labour suspended its candidate, Azhar Ali, leaving the seat undefended. Ali had made offensive comments regarding Israel and Hamas, causing embarrassment for Starmer, who has been working to root out antisemitism within the party.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed alarm at Galloway’s victory, calling for unity against divisive forces. Galloway, known for appealing to Muslim voters, capitalized on anger over the Gaza crisis in his campaign.
While Galloway’s success may not be replicated elsewhere, it poses implications for Labour’s internal politics and the upcoming national election. Galloway is expected to be a thorn in Labour’s side in Parliament, exploiting tensions over the Middle East.
As Galloway taunted Starmer and Sunak, calling them “two cheeks of the same backside,” the Labour leader faces the challenge of regaining ground before the general election. Galloway will have to battle for re-election soon, setting the stage for further political drama in the months ahead.
