Labour’s Paul Waugh has won back Rochdale from independent former Labour MP George Galloway, who had snatched it from the party at a recent by-election.
Workers Party of Great Britain leader Galloway secured around 11,508 votes, but Waugh, a former political journalist from the north-west town, secured more than 13,000 to win it back for Labour.
Labour had lost the seat amid a row over its stance on Gaza, with serial by-election fighter Galloway tapping pro-Palestine sentiment, before its by-election candidate then also saw his candidacy ditched by the party over his controversial comments about Israel.
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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said communities would be “glad to see the back” of Galloway.
Reform secured around 6,000 votes. Waugh had initially stood as Labour’s by-election candidate, but lost out to Azhar Ali, who was subsequently deselected though too late to change ballot papers. Labour suffered a heavy defeat to Galloway in the by-election.
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