George Galloway: What is the Workers Party of Britain?

The Workers Party of Britain has its first MP after George Galloway pulled off a stunning by-election victory in Rochdale. But what does the party stand for?

Mr Galloway - a former Labour and Respect MP - is the founder and leader of the WPB. It was set up in 2019, after Labour's defeat in the general election to "build a new working class politics in Britain".

It is targeting left-wing voters disillusioned with the direction of the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer. It is also aiming to send the Labour leader a message over his position on the conflict in Gaza.

The fledgling party has had limited success at the ballot box before Rochdale.

Mr Galloway came third in the Batley and Spen by-election in 2021, his first time standing under the WPB banner - and it has contested local elections in Scotland and England, without winning a seat.

Its new MP is hoping that his victory in Rochdale will be a springboard to a breakthrough at the general election. He claims to have signed up 60 candidates already.

The WPB describes itself as a socialist and working class party, which wants to bring about "a redistribution of wealth and power in favour of working people".

It has published a "10 point plan for Britain", with the first priority on the list an "end to imperialist wars and financial domination, starting with withdrawal from Nato".

Other pledges include rebuilding British industry, "decent housing" for all, "free or cheap" public transport, free provision for the elderly and disabled, and an end to NHS waiting lists.

The party is against EU membership and is calling for a referendum on the UK's membership of Nato, the defence alliance.

According to its website: "We defend the achievements of the USSR, China, Cuba etc, not least the debt owed by humanity to the Soviet Union and Red Army in their war of liberation against German fascism."

The WPB also wants a net zero referendum, "to create a national debate on who profits from these targets and on what terms".

The party's deputy leader is Chris Williamson, a prominent supporter of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was kicked out of the Labour Party for claiming it had been "too apologetic" in its response to criticism of its handling of antisemitism allegations.

The former Derby North MP told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Galloway's victory on Rochdale "will send shockwaves through the corridors of power".

"George Galloway is probably the best orator in the world," he added.

"He's now got a place in the corridors of power in Westminster."

He refused to condemn the 7 October Hamas terror attacks on Israel, saying: "You can't expect to live in a situation where people have been oppressed for 75 years and not expect a reaction."