George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election

George Galloway has won the Rochdale by-election after one of the most divisive campaigns in years. The Workers Party for Britain leader gained almost 40 per cent of the vote and had a 5,697 majority over his closest rival, David Tully — an independent candidate who only decided to run the day before nominations closed. Labour withdrew support for its candidate, Azhar Ali, after a recording emerged in which he claimed Israel was complicit in the terrorist attacks of October 7. The by-election was to decide the replacement for the veteran Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd, who died in January. Read the best of our journalism: Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: Find us on Facebook: Find us on Twitter: Find us on Instagram: