- Galloway wins by-election
- Sunak criticizes, Galloway retorts
- Concerns over election impact
Rishi Sunak described George Galloway’s by-election victory as “hysterical” and stated that the Labour Party representative “rejects the horror of what occurred on October 7.”
When asked about the Prime Minister’s speech condemning extremism, George Galloway stated he “despises” Rishi Sunak.
With 12,335 votes, the leader of the Workers Party of Britain defeated the second-placed independent, David Tully, by more than 5,000 votes. Throughout his campaign, he highlighted the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.
However, in a speech outside Downing Street, Mr. Sunak described Mr. Galloway’s re-election as “hugely alarming,” claiming the new Member of Parliament “dismisses the horror of what transpired on October 7” and “glorifies Hezbollah.”
When asked if he had any respect for Mr. Sunak, the Rochdale representative replied, “I abhor the Prime Minister.
Do you know what? There are millions upon millions of people in this country who abhor the Prime Minister.
I have absolutely no respect for the Prime Minister.
“Mini” Rishi Sunak
Mr. Galloway, speaking from his campaign office, dismissed the Prime Minister’s concerns and instead boasted about his victory on Thursday evening.
“I hold the democratic mandate in this place, not Rishi Sunak,” he said. “So, do not present me with Rishi Sunak’s statements as if they are meant to impress me.
“He [doesn’t] impress me much.”
Furthermore, he aptly characterised the Prime Minister as the “little” leader of the Conservatives and continued, “The Prime Minister is a relatively diminutive, degraded, and diminished politician.”
“He made a political statement for his party.” The opinion of Rishi Sunak does not concern me. My concern is that the returning officer, a person of impeccable integrity with whom I am sure you will agree, proclaimed the election to be free and fair, thereby recognising me as the victor.
Additionally, one of the two major parties in the state, Rishi Sunak, was defeated.
“Suck it in.”
Others shared the Prime Minister’s apprehensions about the return of the former Labour MP to the House of Commons.
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In Rochdale, Sir Keir Starmer apologised to the electorate and stated that Mr. Galloway “won solely due to the absence of a Labour candidate.”
The by-election was “a dark day” for the Jewish community in the United Kingdom, according to the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Additionally, Richard Tice stated that “daily intimidation and slurs” were directed at Reform activists in the Greater Manchester constituency.
However, in response to Mr. Coates’ inquiry regarding the intimidation allegations, Mr. Galloway stated, “You just have to swallow it. “I was re-elected.”
