Galloway leaflets Muslim voters in Rochdale with false Starmer Israel claim
The scandal hit Rochdale by-election is taking place on Thursday, Feb 29
George Galloway has attempted to target Muslim voters in Rochdale in the days leading up to the scandal hit by-election by falsely claiming a victory for him could force “supporter of Israel” Keir Starmer out
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A highly inflammatory leaflet, addressed to the “voters of Muslim faith in Rochdale” sent by Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain also claims Labour has “betrayed” Muslims by supporting Israel’s “genocide”.
In the letter, Galloway claims he has “fought for Muslims at home and abroad'”for all of his life and “paid a price for it”.
He also writes: “I, George Galloway, have always come to the side of the people of Palestine in their agony – and am doing so again now as Gaza is burning – tried to save the people of Iraq, and fight against all wars.
“If Labour lose this by-election, Sir Keir Starmer could well be forced out as Labour leader. Sir Keir Starmer, a top supporter of Israel, out.
“Imagine – the people of Rochdale coming together to topple the hated Labour leader. We have the power to do that. It’s in your hands, brothers and sisters.”
Galloway begins and ends the letter with the Arabic phrase A’Salaam o Aleukum, before turning to the war in Gaza, saying it has “shocked” the “ummah”.
Thursday’s by-election in the Greater Manchester town featured 11 candidates, but has been dogged with controversy throughout the campaign.
Labour has withdrawn is support for its canidate Azhar Ali after a recording emerged in which he suggested Israel had allowed the 7 October attacks by Hamas as a pretext to invade Gaza.
@jewishnews ???? This guy is now representing an entire town in the UK. GET TO KNOW: Rochdale’s new Member of Parliament, George Galloway. ???? by Richard Ferrer.
Ali also blamed Jewish media for fuelling criticism against a pro-Palestinian Labour MP.
He will still be listed as the Labour candidate on the ballot paper as under electoral law it is too late to replace him.
Simon Danczuk, who was elected as the Labour MP in 2010, but was suspended from the party in 2015 over allegations of what he called “inappropriate behaviour”, and left it two years later is standing for Reform UK.
Iain Donaldon is standing for the Lib Dems, while the Greens withdrew support for their candidate Guy Otten following “regrettable” social media posts that were anti-Muslim.
Paul Ellison is the Conservative candidate in the by-election,, which also has several independents.
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