On his first day back in Parliament as Rochdale’s representative, George Galloway issued a warning to Greater Manchester MPs. The Workers Party of Britain leader, who received nearly 40 percent of the vote in the recent by-election, took the seat with a majority of 5,697.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Galloway stated his intention to “make Rochdale great again” and outlined plans to challenge Labour in other constituencies.
Galloway announced that his party would field candidates or support independents in places like Oldham, Bury, and Ashton-under-Lyne, where Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner represents.
He noted that there are significant supporters of his viewpoint in Rayner’s constituency and expressed his intention to contest her seat in the next election.
He also mentioned plans to field candidates in other constituencies across London, Birmingham, the West Midlands, and North West England, including towns around Rochdale like Oldham, Blackburn, Burnley, Nelson, and Bury.
Responding to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s comment that his victory in Rochdale was “beyond alarming,” Galloway criticized Sunak, saying it was not for the unelected Prime Minister to decide who represents the constituency.
He emphasized his focus on making Rochdale great again and suggested that the next election would be about “Muslims” and “the taking away of civil liberties in this country.”
Galloway’s campaign in the by-election was centered around the situation in Gaza, and he highlighted the anger among Muslims and others over the Labour Party’s stance on the war.
He referenced a UK Parliament motion passed last month calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the region and the release of Israeli hostages, which sparked controversy among political parties.
Galloway’s return to Parliament has set the stage for a challenging political landscape in Greater Manchester and beyond, as he aims to shake up traditional party dynamics and assert his influence on key issues.
