'I regret George Galloway's victory' Michael Gove speaks out after controversial MP wins Rochdale by-elections

'I regret George Galloway's victory' Michael Gove speaks out after controversial MP wins Rochdale by-elections
Gabrielle Wilde

By Gabrielle Wilde


Published: 01/03/2024

- 17:50

Updated: 01/03/2024

- 17:53

George Galloway won the Rochdale seat by 12,335 votes after running on a pro-Palestine campaign

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove has spoken out after the controversial MP George Galloway won the Rochdale by-elections.

Speaking to GB News Gove said: "The first thing is we're all Democrats, so I've got to congratulate George Galloway on his victory.

"I am fundamentally opposed to the platform on which George Galloway stood. I think that George is using the politics of division.

"I think that the approach that he's been taking, rather than bringing communities together at a challenging time, will only polarize people further. I think his approach towards the war in the Middle East won't contribute to peace and it shows no sympathy or understanding for the position of Israel.

"But also here in the UK, we had a by-election campaign which instead of being about housing, health, and education was about division and one which will only doctor extremists further.

"So in that sense, I regret George Galloway's victory.

"I think it only emphasises the need for all of us to stand together against extremism and to celebrate what brings people together in this great country."

WATCH THE CLIP ABOVE FOR MORE

Latest Politics videos

Don't Miss

Best of Politics

Latest videos

More videos