Man to appear in court over threats made to by-election candidate

Tuesday, 30 September 2025 18:20

By George Lythgoe

Simon Danczuk, Reform UK candidate for the Rochdale by-election

A man is due to appear in court after making an alleged ‘online threat’ to Rochdale by-election candidate Simon Danczuk last year.

The former Rochdale MP was Reform UK’s candidate in the parliamentary by-election contested in February 2024.

Victory went to Workers Party leader George Galloway, but in the build up to polling day it is alleged that Mr Danczuk was threatened.

Zaffar Hussain, 25, was arrested on February 27, 2024. He has since been charged with malicious communications with intent.

Mr Hussain, of Kellett Street in Rochdale, has been released on bail and is due to appear at the magistrates’ court in Wigan on December 17.

The by-election in Rochdale was quickly followed by the general election in July 2024, where George Galloway lost his seat as Rochdale MP to Labour’s Paul Waugh.

A spoeksperson for GMP said: “Zaffar Hussain of Kellett Street, Rochdale, has been charged with malicious communications with intent.

“He has been bailed to next appear at Wigan Magistrates Court on Wednesday, December 17 , 2025.”

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