Rochdale by-election: 'This is for Gaza' message resonated for many

The only statue that stands outside Rochdale town hall isn't of a politician or philanthropist, but of Gracie Fields, the 1930s Hollywood icon who was born above a chip shop a few streets away.

And if the glamour of Los Angeles was a world away from this working-class Greater Manchester town, so too was one of the key battlegrounds of the by-election that has seen George Galloway become its new MP.

Alongside cost-of-living worries and the loss of local services, the conflict in Gaza was a major part of this contest.

It was clear from speaking to people in the town centre that his podium declaration that "This is for Gaza" resonated with many here.

"I feel like people don't like Labour the way they used to," said 19-year-old student Mohammad Khan.

"George Galloway was [the better choice] because he supports Palestine."

The Gaza conflict wasn't the only subject of debate of course in Rochdale - local issues were also important.

Independent candidate Dave Tully came second to Mr Galloway.

His 6,638 votes firmly put the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform and the man who ended up Labour's candidate on paper only - Azhar Ali - in the shade.

Mr Khan said: "It's good that an independent candidate should come in second," adding that he believed more independent voices in politics was a good thing.

Lesley Fawthrop, a 46-year-old office worker, also said she believed more "down to earth, hard-working people" were needed in politics.

"I don't know [Mr Tully] personally, but people can relate to [him]," she said, adding that she viewed mainstream politicians as "all as bad as each other".

But not everyone was happy about the prospect of having Mr Galloway representing their town.

Elizabeth Senior, a 51-year-old office worker, said she was not impressed to have "a man who licked milk off Rula Lenska as our MP" - a reference to Mr Galloway's infamous appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006.

"Labour are as bad as the Tories," said Ms Senior, who described herself politically as being more to the right than the left.

"There's no sense the Tories made an effort here at all."

Claire Smith, 50, who is currently unemployed, said there was an appeal to "the idea of a good local independent that people feel like they can trust".

Rochdale born and raised Mr Tully, who described himself as "having a deep understanding of the issues facing the community", runs a local garage.

His campaigning focused heavily on local issues, pledging to reinstate the maternity ward at Rochdale Infirmary and securing the future of Rochdale AFC.

Mr Tully also made the cost of living a key campaign issue and condemned "companies making billions from families that are on the breadline".

While he is known for his stance on the Middle East, Mr Galloway's also campaigned on those issues.

There is no doubt here that Mr Galloway's tactic - of effectively making this contest into a referendum on Labour's position on Gaza - worked spectacularly well.

Mr Ali lost the Labour Party's support over repeating claims that Israel had allowed the 7 October Hamas attacks.

Unemployed Sajid Ibrahim, 46, said that while he had voted Labour for "25 to 30 years", he chose not to this time.

"I look at the Gaza situation and I think we just need a bit of a change in this country," he said.

"I think Gaza really does matter here. And we've seen George Galloway around a lot, a lot of people have been out supporting him."

Mr Ibrahim conceded not everyone had been convinced, though.

"I spoke to a lady the other day and she was like 'I've never heard of George Galloway, I'm voting Labour all the way'."

Retired bus conductor Alan Wilcock, 74, also admitted not being familiar with the town's new MP prior to the by-election contest.

"I'd never heard of George Galloway, and have voted Labour all my life", he said.

Labour will be desperate to win Rochdale back at the general election, which is now only months away.

But Mr Galloway is a seasoned politician, and will be determined to be a long-term thorn in Labour's side.

Apart from Gracie Fields, Rochdale is known nationally as being the birthplace, 180 years ago, of the Co-operative Movement.

Indeed a sign painted on a bridge on the way into the town centre proudly declares Rochdale to be "the home of co-operation".

We've seen little of that during this tumultuous by-election campaign, and it can't be taken for granted that it will return.

Even darling Gracie went from being a forces' sweetheart to having a bid to renew her British passport rejected in 1945 for having married an Italian film producer in Hollywood five years before.

A reminder for the Labour Party - if ever it needed one right now - that what happens abroad can be decisive in determining what goes on at home.

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