Nigel Farage has clashed with Independent candidate and former lawyer to Shamima Begum Mohammed Akunjee, as George Galloway has sparked a debate about the "Muslim vote" in Britain.
Galloway secured victory in the Rochdale by-election after Labour disowned candidate Azhar Ali, following allegations of antisemitism.
Speaking outside Parliament yesterday after being sworn in at the House of Commons, Galloway warned Labour that the Worker's Party will be ousting them from their seats, and that the next election will "be about Muslims".
Galloway claimed: "The next election will be about Muslims, and will be about the taking away of civil liberties in this country."
Nigel Farage grills Mohammed Akunjee on where his 'loyalties lie'
GB News
He also predicted: "Independent candidates to pick up potentially millions of votes from those who treasure the free rights that we have enjoyed since the Second World War in this country, and who wish to defend the Muslim communities in Britain."
Reacting to the comments, GB News host Nigel Farage said Galloway is the politics of "religious division" in the UK, and wants to instil the belief that Muslims "haven't got the same rights as the rest of us in this country".
Speaking to Independent Candidate Mohammed Akunjee, Nigel Farage questioned him on "where his loyalties lie", and if his priorities are with "the people as a collective" or with a "particular group" such as Muslims.
Akunjee told Nigel: "If you look at my position, particularly on Gaza, my loyalties lie with where 71 per cent of the British public loyalty's lie on that issue."
George Galloway says the next election will 'be about Muslims' and the 'taking away of civil liberties'
PA
He added: "With Prince William coming out saying that he doesn't want to see anymore death there, the Royal Family has been very clear about that position as well."
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Nigel responded to Akunjee, noting "there are a lot of unhappy people" when it comes to the war in Gaza, but if "Israel doesn't wipe out Hamas, they'll cross the border and do it again".
Nigel then suggested: "The politics that's emerging from George Galloway, what you're saying to me now, albeit in far more subtle and gentle tones, it is that what happens in Gaza seems to matter more than what's happening in Bethnal Green."
Akunjee disagreed with Nigel, claiming: "What's happening in the UK is that we have austerity. The national debt's getting bigger and bigger, partly because of the pandemic and the misuse of our funds, and because of our commitment to foreign wars.
"Ukraine is not a foreign issue, and Israel-Gaza is not a foreign issue."
Nigel clashed with Akunjee on George Galloway's comments
GB News
When pressed by Nigel if George Galloway's point of the next election being "about Muslims" was right, Akunjee responded: "If Sunak has his way, it will be.
"Sunak was recategorising people, the majority of people who have been on these protests are not Muslims. At least 80 per cent are non-Muslims who've been on these pro-Palestinian programs."
Akunjee also claimed there have been "Jewish people" at the marches as well, to which Nigel shut him down, stating: "I very much doubt that".