GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry has slammed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's response to George Galloway's by-election victory.
The Labour leader has claimed that the victory "would have been theirs" if they hadn't withdrawn their support from candidate Azhar Ali.
Ali was disowned by the party after being accused of antisemitism. Galloway, of the Workers' Party of Britain, won the by-election in Rochdale with a majority of 5,697, taking 12,335 votes.
Following his win, Galloway warned Keir Starmer that he has "woken up to his worst nightmare".
Michelle Dewberry branded Keir Starmer 'egotistical'
GB News / PA
Starmer issued an apology to the constituents of Rochdale, and claimed he only won "because Labour didn't stand a candidate".
He stated: "I regret that we had to withdraw our candidate and apologise to voters in Rochdale, but I took that decision. It was the right decision. And when I say I change the Labour Party, I mean it. Obviously we will put a first class candidate, a unifier before the voters in Rochdale at the general election."
Reacting to Starmer's pledge ahead of the general election, GB News host Michelle Dewberry blasted him for his "egotistical" response, asking "who do you think you are?"
Michelle said Azhar Ali was an "absolute wrong-un" for Labour, and criticised his reasoning for the by-election loss.
George Galloway said he was Keir Starmer's 'worst nightmare' following his win
PA
She fumed: "You had to withdraw him because you picked the wrong fella, that was the reason that you didn't win. I think it's so egotistical and so many people today so that are not massively politically engaged, this is one of the reasons why."
Journalist Judita DaSilva was in agreement with Michelle, and noted that Starmer's response is "playing into Galloway's hands".
She explained: "If George Galloway can potentially preach rhetoric that has a universal appeal for different reasons, even though it's not the agenda he's really standing on, that reaction will sway people that otherwise wouldn't care for Galloway but are anti-Starmer, towards having some option that isn't Starmer. And that's what plays into Galloways hands.
"There are a lot of people who are apathetic, that are disenchanted, that are undecided, that are in the middle. And all they need is someone who looks like they have enough motivation and enough ability to stand their ground, to be effective, will galvanise them, and that's a dangerous thing.
DaSilva added that George Galloway is "not something you can dismiss" and he has "potential power" that is underestimated.
Judita DaSilva says Keir Starmer is 'playing into Galloway's hands'
GB News
Speaking in defence of the Conservatives, PR Consultant Alex Deane argued that Keir Starmer's response was "right", and predicted that Rochdale may see a Labour victory in the general election.
Deane told GB News: "I rather feel it's likely that should the Labour Party get its act together, that George Galloway will enjoy nine months in Parliament before the seat returns to the Labour Party.
"In which case, what Keir Starmer broadly said would be broadly correct after all. In the end, it seems to me that the Labour Party being at war to the knife in Rochdale with its ancient enemy, the Labour Party, was a big part of the reason for Galloway's success."