'Sectarian politics is here to stay' - Nigel Farage issues chilling warning after 'ugly' victory for Galloway: 'Votes on religious lines'
Nigel Farage on sectarian politics in the UK
GB News
George Galloway’s victory in the Rochdale by-election is a sure sign that “sectarian politics is here to stay”, according to Nigel Farage.
The former Brexit Party leader also anticipates further success for The Workers Party as fury over the Gaza conflict spills onto the streets of Britain.
Farage joined GB News’s Tom Harwood to reflect on the results of the by-election that was mired in controversy.
“He made it very clear, in parts of the West Midlands, he is aiming for a Muslim vote that Labour had taken for granted”, he said.
WATCH: Nigel Farage reacts to Galloway's by-election win
“Over 80 per cent of the Muslim population had been voting for the Labour Party.
“Many of them signed up cynically for the Labour Party on postal votes. This now means that Galloway can challenge in 20-30 constituencies.
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Labour candidate for Rochdale, Azhar Ali, has apologisedGETTY“It also means The Workers Party could put up a very strong candidate to challenge Sadiq Khan to be Mayor of London and that could really challenge his position.
“Sectarian politics is here to stay. People thought the result in Bradford West was a one-off. It wasn’t.
“It was a warning shot. This is voting along religious lines. This is real. This is here to stay. They are going to win seats at the next general election.
“I suspect not many, but I do think this phenomenon with all of its ugliness, all of its intimidation, all of its wilfully breaking election law is here to stay.”
Galloway opened his victory speech by addressing Palestine, saying Keir Starmer will “pay a high price” for “enabling the catastrophe presently going on in the occupied Palestine in the Gaza Strip”.
He said he would put Rochdale councillors “on notice” that he intended to form a “grand alliance” to “clean the town hall up” at the local elections in May.
After he was interrupted by a heckler accusing him of being a “climate change denier”, and confetti was thrown at him, he went on to pledge to campaign for the return of a maternity ward to Rochdale and to help save the town’s troubled football club.
A Labour spokesperson said: “We deeply regret that the Labour party was unable to field a candidate in this by-election and apologise to the people of Rochdale. George Galloway only won because Labour did not stand.
“Rochdale deserved the chance to vote for an MP that would bring communities together and deliver for working people. George Galloway is only interested in stoking fear and division. As an MP he will be a damaging force in our communities and public life.
“The Labour Party will quickly begin the process to select a new Labour candidate for the general election, and will be campaigning hard to deliver the representation and fresh start that Rochdale deserves.”