BREAKING: George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election by nearly 6000 votes

Friday, 1 March 2024 03:20

By David Murphy

George Galloway on stage. Credit: David Murphy

After a long night and a circus of an election campaign in Rochdale, George Galloway wins the Rochdale by-election.

George Galloway, a former Labour MP and contestant on Celebrity Big Brother, won the by-election with 12,335 votes, almost 6,000 more than any other candidate.

Although the victory speech was interrupted this morning as Reverend Mark Coleman, who also ran in the by-election and who is known in Rochdale for going to prison, and who was recently in court for his Just Stop Oil activities, threw orange confetti over Galloway on stage before a Just Stop Oil heckler shouted out disrupting his speech, calling him a 'climate change denier'.

During his speech, Galloway said he would put Rochdale Labour Councillors "on notice" and wanted to "clean up the town hall" with the upcoming elections in May as people have lost confidence in Labour.

David Tully, an Independent and Rochdale Man of the Year winner, came second after receiving more than 6000 votes.

Early in the evening, within hours of the polls closing, Galloway supporters were planning the victory rally at his headquarters, the former Suzuki showroom in Rochdale.

The full results are as follows:

Galloway (Workers Pty) 12,335
Tully (Ind) 6,638
Ellison (Cons) 3,731
Ali (Lab) 2,402
Donaldson (LibDem) 2,164
Danczuk (Reform) 1,968
W.Howarth (Ind) 523
Coleman 455 Otten (Grn) 436
M.Howarth (Ind) 246
Subortna (Monst Raving) 209

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something happening in our Borough?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@rochvalleyradio.com

All contact will be treated in confidence.

More from Local News

New milestone hit on major energy project

A huge energy storage project in Rochdale has hit a new milestone. An infrastructure agreement has been made between the National Grid and battery energy storage (BESS) operator Root-Power.
Closures at Big Lamp Roundabout

Closures at Big Lamp Roundabout
Kingsway Park High School closed on Wednesday 7 January

Kingsway Park High School will be closed to all students and staff on Wednesday 7 January 2026 due to issues with the heating and building management system.
Animal welfare reforms welcomed in Rochdale as new government strategy unveiled

Pets, farm animals and wildlife across Rochdale are set to benefit from sweeping new animal welfare reforms backed by the town’s MP, Paul Waugh.
Market Street closure for five months begins

A busy main road in Bury town centre will be shut for five months from today Monday, January 5, as part of a £6m active travel overhaul. Market Street will be closed to traffic until June 26 as the council carries out works to introduce new cycle lanes and crossing signals.
'There's a 14-year-old girl with a man in the hotel, and we need the police to come'

Police in Greater Manchester say they are now acting faster and more effectively to protect vulnerable children following past failures, with one recent hotel incident showing how joined-up safeguarding is making a difference.
Man in his 20s arrested after two seriously injured in Wardle bus stop crash

Police have confirmed the arrest of a man following a serious crash at a bus stop in Wardle that left two people in hospital with fractured limbs.
Police cordon in place at Norton Grange Hotel and Spa

Police are dealing with an incident at the Norton Grange Hotel and Spa in Castleton this morning, with part of the site sealed off and a visible emergency presence on Manchester Road.
LIVE: Snow updates, traffic and travel for the 'first day back' in 2026

Greater Manchester is expecting disruption this morning as snowfall and freezing temperatures combine with the first major commuter and school run of 2026.
M60 closed near Prestwich after multi-vehicle crash saw two rushed to hospital

Traffic halted and delays expected following collision between junctions 16 and 17
Multiple pedestrians seriously injured after car hits bus stop on Wardle Road

Emergency services closed Wardle Road in Rochdale following an ongoing incident this afternoon. 4 January, causing disruption for drivers in the area.
Woman injured after fall from M66 bridge in Bury

A woman has been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after falling from a bridge onto the M66 motorway in Bury. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Saturday 3 January.