turnout for the rochdale by election, and council officials there saying it was 39.7%. now, that compares to a turnout of 60% at the last general election in 2019, but of course turnout at by election is always lower than it is at a general election, so the turnout in rochdale, 39.7%. that, as i said, compared to a turnout of 60% in the general election in 2019. we know that the officials there are counting at the moment, we are expecting a result may be in the next couple of hours, but this has certainly not been a normal by election campaign. by—elections are often colourful and chaotic, but there has never been anything quite like the contest in rochdale just north of manchester. the vote in the town was caused by the death of the town's widely

respected labour mp, sir tony lloyd. on paper, it should have been relatively straightforward for labour to win. labour has won there for the past 1a years. azhar ali won the contest to be labour's candidate and appeared as their candidate on the ballot paper. but labour disowned and suspended him over remarks widely alleged to be anti—semitic. he said sorry for what he said. george galloway won the bradford west by—election in 2012 — another constituency with a significant muslim population — he is standing. his critics accuse him of stoking division in towns he previously has had little to do with. in a campaign with a heavy focus on the plight of people in gaza, he said he offers a voice to people who otherwise wouldn't have one. he is a former labour mp and a former respect mp. his campaign was focused on the 30% of the constituency which is muslim. simon danczuk is claiming to be a "real alternative". he is the reform uk candidate, which used to be the brexit party,

and he was the mp for rochdale until 2017. labour had suspended him after he sent lewd texts to a 17—year—old girl, which he apologised for. the conservative candidate is paul ellison, a local businessman, a previous winner of rochdale man of the year. but he wasn't in rochdale for part of the run up to the by election, as he was on holiday. the green party had disowned the candidate they initially selected to fight the contest, guy 0tten, over remarks about the middle east on social media. he made derogatory remarks about the muslim faith. rochdale was a lib dem stronghold not so long ago and the party's candidate iain donaldson believes it can be again. we will be light at the calgary shortly. —— we will be live at the count very shortly. labour's shadow immigration minister, stephen kinnock, was asked for his reaction to the by—election now the polls have closed. well, to be frank, i'm pleased that this whole sorry saga has come to an end now. it has been a very difficult and messy process. i'm very pleased that we took rapid and robust action in terms of our candidate. and the number one priority for us

now in rochdale will be to select a strong candidate who will take the seat for labour and we will have a labour mp at the general election that we can be proud of. that is labour's stephen kinnick. let's go live to our political correspondent, peter saull, who is at the count in rochdale. peter, can you just give us... you're hearing george galloway pause 19 sounding confident, is that right? 19 sounding confident, is that riuht? ~ ., . 19 sounding confident, is that riuht? a, ., _, , right? more than confident, they think they've _ right? more than confident, they think they've won _ right? more than confident, they think they've won and _ right? more than confident, they think they've won and they - right? more than confident, they think they've won and they think| think they've won and they think they've won comfortably, but it is still relatively early on here. we will not get the result for the next couple of hours or so, certainly, though, as say, those activists who have been working on the george galloway campaign the key is on his way back to parliament. and one other very virtuous and given them is that an independent candidate, david tully, local businessmen, appears to be doing very aware well too, and they well have come second according to some of the activists

i've been speaking to, which would be an extraordinary result for someone who is completely new to politics and has just drummed up supporting local community. a fascinating by election is emerging here at the rochdale sports village, and, yeah, really, it seems to be the message from voters in rochdale is one of rejection of the mainstream parties we will have to wait and see exactly how they fare, but it looks unlikely that as our alley, the candidate who had been selected by the labour party but then dropped the —— for comments that were widely alleged to be anti—semitic. he apologised. he does not look likely to have gotten near enough to be elected parliament. george galloway appears to be out in front at the moment according to the wars that have come in, and as for conservatives, not so good, and reform uk... they were hoping to do well with their candidate, not a

—— another former labour mp for rochdale, simon danczuk, they are played on their chances, so the turnout, as you said, in the introduction, 39.7% which is lower than what you get in a general election but fairly typical, actually, for a by election, so there have been concerns of a really depressed turnout in this by election, i don't think that has ackley materialised. i5 election, i don't think that has ackley materialised. is interesting, 39.796 of it ackley materialised. is interesting, 39-796 of it is _ ackley materialised. is interesting, 39.794. of it is slightly _ ackley materialised. is interesting, 39.796 of it is slightly higher - ackley materialised. is interesting, 39.796 of it is slightly higher than i 39.7% of it is slightly higher than the other by elections we have had recently. any idea of when we get results? i recently. any idea of when we get results? , ,., ~' recently. any idea of when we get results? , ,., ~ ., recently. any idea of when we get results? , ., ., . results? i spoke to an officer about an hour and — results? i spoke to an officer about an hour and half _ results? i spoke to an officer about an hour and half ago, _ results? i spoke to an officer about an hour and half ago, and he - results? i spoke to an officer about an hour and half ago, and he said l an hourand half ago, and he said half past 2am mr two hours from now. it could be earlier than that. the volunteers behind your getting through those papers relatively quickly, and if the george kelly campaign are correct, and he has won comfortably, then there won't be any

need for any recounts, but as i say, take that with a bit of a pinch of salt at this stage, because some of the polling boxes are still to come in. �* , . , the polling boxes are still to come in. �* , ., , ., ., the polling boxes are still to come in. and i just wants to go back to the pies, because if— in. and i just wants to go back to the pies, because if you were - in. and i just wants to go back to l the pies, because if you were with us earlier, you will know that pies have been brought out for the journalists there. have you managed to get one? i journalists there. have you managed to net one? . ., journalists there. have you managed to get one?— to get one? i have! i have managed to get one? i have! i have managed to net a to get one? i have! i have managed to get a cheese _ to get one? i have! i have managed to get a cheese and _ to get one? i have! i have managed to get a cheese and onion _ to get a cheese and onion pie, locally sourced, rochdale delicacies. there was meat and potato also available and they were lapped up by thejournalists. there are probably hundreds here, to be honest, covering this really, really interesting by election for politics watchers. there are also cupcakes on offer as well with a rochdale by election bit of icing on them, so perhaps not so much of a balanced diet, but fuel for what is potentially quite a long night. someone said, is it a pie election, rather than a by election? you

mentioned journalist. how many are there? have they really turned tonight? there? have they really turned toniaht? ., there? have they really turned toniaht? . ., ., ., ., tonight? yeah, there are a lot of journalists _ tonight? yeah, there are a lot of journalists here. _ tonight? yeah, there are a lot of journalists here. that _ tonight? yeah, there are a lot of journalists here. that is - tonight? yeah, there are a lot of journalists here. that is for - journalists here. that is for sure, and i'm sure there will be tomorrow as well as we get the reaction to the results, and lots ofjournalists have descended on this relatively quiet corner of greater manchester. 0rdinarily, this is not that interesting politically, this part of the world, it tends to be one thatis of the world, it tends to be one that is quite safer labour, but the fact he had to drop their candidate now the re—emergence of george galloway, this long—standing, veteran left wing campaigner, who since leaving the labour party, has been a perennial thorn in his former party's site, friendly, and it appears like he is on the verge of making a stunning comeback to westminster. the conditions have been pretty good for him, really — there is a large muslim population here and he has done that in former, other by elections in the past as well, bradford west in 2012 very similar, but of course what is happening in the middle east to deep

concern of a lot of voters of what is happening, particularly in gaza, specifically among the muslim population here. he does appear to have enthuse a lot of voters here. we have to wait and see with that final result, but his team very, very confident indeed.- final result, but his team very, very confident indeed. peter, i am auoin to very confident indeed. peter, i am going to let— very confident indeed. peter, i am going to let you — very confident indeed. peter, i am going to let you go _ very confident indeed. peter, i am going to let you go and _ very confident indeed. peter, i am going to let you go and see - very confident indeed. peter, i am going to let you go and see if- going to let you go and see if you can grab people from around there and will come straight back to you. joining us throughout the night is polling expertjoe twyman, who is the co—founder of deltapoll, a public opinion consultancy. let's start off with the turnout. 39.7%. that's quite good for a by election? 39.796. that's quite good for a by election? �* , ., ., ., ., election? it's around the average that we have _ election? it's around the average that we have seen _ election? it's around the average that we have seen in _ election? it's around the average that we have seen in recent - election? it's around the average that we have seen in recent set l election? it's around the average| that we have seen in recent set of by elections, slightly higher than kingswood and willingboro, which has come up this year, slightly lower than the by elections we saw in the run—up to the end of the year. find run-up to the end of the year. and we were talking _ run—up to the end of the year. and we were talking about the fact that george galloway pause 19 are confident. how much of a surprise would that be to you as a poster —— george bailey's team? indie

would that be to you as a poster -- george bailey's team?— george bailey's team? we did not know what was _ george bailey's team? we did not know what was going _ george bailey's team? we did not know what was going to _ george bailey's team? we did not know what was going to be - george bailey's team? we did not know what was going to be the . know what was going to be the situation going into this election, because it was very likely george galloway could win, but equally we did not know what impact the labour candidate being disavowed by the party would have on the electorate. it seems to be that the candidate has left, he is not even going to turn out to the count, it has been suggested, but certainly if george gallo we were to win, it would be a historical victory, and i'm sure he will be very fond of telling us all that. , �* , ., ~ that. yes, i'm sure he would. also, peter was — that. yes, i'm sure he would. also, peter was mentioning _ that. yes, i'm sure he would. also, peter was mentioning it _ that. yes, i'm sure he would. also, peter was mentioning it looks - that. yes, i'm sure he would. also, peter was mentioning it looks like i peter was mentioning it looks like an independent might have done well, even productions they may come second. that would be definitely unusual in a by election? for me, that is the — unusual in a by election? for me, that is the biggest _ unusual in a by election? for me, that is the biggest story - unusual in a by election? for me, that is the biggest story here. - that is the biggest story here. we're looking at a situation where potentially we could have george galloway, who is not technically an independent, though certainly not representing a major party by any means, and then an independent candidate, potentially, coming second. that does not happen at all.

we have been desperately searching through the history books to find an occasion where that has happened in the past and with it we found one in 1945, with the combined scottish universities election. if you have to go that obscure it demonstrates what unusual situation this is, and so for that to happen, i think would send an enormous signal to the established parties in westminster. stay with us. let us head back to the count at rochdale and peter saull. who have you got with you? this saull. who have you got with you? as i saull. who have you got with you? is i was saying earlier on, the george bailey campaign very confident indeed he has won this by election. i am joined by another former labour mp, chris williamson, who is supporting george galloway. chris, how are you feeling tonight? this seems like you believe pretty strongly he has won? we seems like you believe pretty strongly he has won?- seems like you believe pretty strongly he has won? we are very confident it _ strongly he has won? we are very confident it is, _ strongly he has won? we are very confident it is, the _ strongly he has won? we are very confident it is, the win _ strongly he has won? we are very confident it is, the win for- strongly he has won? we are very| confident it is, the win for george. and this _ confident it is, the win for george. and this will send a shock wave, i

think. _ and this will send a shock wave, i think, through the corridors of power— think, through the corridors of power in — think, through the corridors of power in westminster, the more important — power in westminster, the more important than that it will give confidence to insurgent campaigns all over_ confidence to insurgent campaigns all over the country who are looking for a alternative for our mainstream political _ for a alternative for our mainstream political parties, because our democracy has been stolen from us. both labour— democracy has been stolen from us. both labour and the conservative party— both labour and the conservative party are — both labour and the conservative party are the same page on the economy— party are the same page on the economy and the international as welt _ economy and the international as welt they— economy and the international as well. they both sign up to the war machine _ well. they both sign up to the war machine and neoliberal economics. people _ machine and neoliberal economics. people about no real choice. we are effectively _ people about no real choice. we are effectively being run by a one—party state _ effectively being run by a one—party state and _ effectively being run by a one—party state and people are desperate, it seems _ state and people are desperate, it seems to— state and people are desperate, it seems to me, or an alternative. the workers _ seems to me, or an alternative. the workers party, george galloway, provides— workers party, george galloway, provides that alternative and we think. _ provides that alternative and we think, strong victory this evening will he _ think, strong victory this evening will he a — think, strong victory this evening will be a real boost those insurgent can paint _ will be a real boost those insurgent can paint all over the country, and the major— can paint all over the country, and the major put up a parties better watch _ the major put up a parties better watch out — the major put up a parties better watch out when the general election comes _ watch out when the general election comes. ~ . watch out when the general election comes. . ., , ., watch out when the general election comes. ~ ., , ., , watch out when the general election comes. . ., ., , , ., comes. what message to this sent to the labour comes. what message to this sent to the labour party _ comes. what message to this sent to the labour party in _ comes. what message to this sent to the labour party in regards _ comes. what message to this sent to the labour party in regards to - comes. what message to this sent to the labour party in regards to his - the labour party in regards to his position on the middle east? thea;r position on the middle east? they have lost touch _ position on the middle east? they have lost touch with _ position on the middle east? they have lost touch with reality. the labour — have lost touch with reality. the labour party is facilitating a

genocide that has taken place before very eyes _ genocide that has taken place before very eyes. it is outrageous that the labour— very eyes. it is outrageous that the labour party of our clinical parties. _ labour party of our clinical parties, which is always had a strong — parties, which is always had a strong piece contention within it, is now— strong piece contention within it, is now supporting genocide —— of all political— is now supporting genocide —— of all political parties. is now supporting genocide -- of all political parties.— political parties. maybe avoid that lanaruae if political parties. maybe avoid that language if that — political parties. maybe avoid that language if that is _ political parties. maybe avoid that language if that is ok _ political parties. maybe avoid that language if that is ok for - political parties. maybe avoid that language if that is ok for now... l political parties. maybe avoid that| language if that is ok for now... it may offend, but even the international court ofjustice have acknowledge there is a plausible genocide going on. when you see the israelis _ genocide going on. when you see the israelis massacring people who are starving. _ israelis massacring people who are starving, queuing up for food, and the labour— starving, queuing up for food, and the labour party is not actually standing — the labour party is not actually standing out against that, it is outrageous. standing out against that, it is outrageous-— standing out against that, it is outrageous. what do you say to eo - le outrageous. what do you say to people who _ outrageous. what do you say to people who say _ outrageous. what do you say to people who say that _ outrageous. what do you say to people who say that george - outrageous. what do you say to - people who say that george galloway comes into places like this, he has never been to before, and just from subdivision? never been to before, and 'ust from subdivision?— all. subdivision? that is not true at all- george _ subdivision? that is not true at all- george is _ subdivision? that is not true at all. george is very _ subdivision? that is not true at all. george is very strong -- i subdivision? that is not true at. all. george is very strong -- and all. george is very strong —— and 'ust all. george is very strong —— and just stirs — all. george is very strong —— and just stirs up _ all. george is very strong —— and just stirs up division. the people of rochdale have been let down on local issues. a service is not here. a housing — local issues. a service is not here. a housing crisis, huge levels of poverty— a housing crisis, huge levels of poverty in— a housing crisis, huge levels of poverty in what used to be the fifth

biggest, _ poverty in what used to be the fifth biggest, cannot be six biggest... applause the sort of deprivation millions of people _ the sort of deprivation millions of people across the country and thousands of people in rochdale are currently _ thousands of people in rochdale are currently experiencing, and so george — currently experiencing, and so george i— currently experiencing, and so george i think is offering hope to those _ george i think is offering hope to those people but also thousands of people _ those people but also thousands of people in_ those people but also thousands of people in rochdale and millions all over the _ people in rochdale and millions all over the country are also concerned about _ over the country are also concerned about international policy as well, and the _ about international policy as well, and the fact is our government and the main _ and the fact is our government and the main opposition party is actually— the main opposition party is actually supporting massacres of palestinian, innocent palestinian people — palestinian, innocent palestinian people. people are outraged about this and _ people. people are outraged about this and wanted people speaking out against _ this and wanted people speaking out against it _ this and wanted people speaking out against it. george galloway and the workers _ against it. george galloway and the workers partner doing just that. some _ workers partner doing just that. some of— workers partner doing just that. some of the other parties think the campaign here has been toxic and labour blames that with george galloway. labour blames that with george gallowa . , ., ., ., �* galloway. they would do, wouldn't the ? it is galloway. they would do, wouldn't they? it is not. _ galloway. they would do, wouldn't they? it is not. we _ galloway. they would do, wouldn't they? it is not. we have _ galloway. they would do, wouldn't they? it is not. we have fought - galloway. they would do, wouldn't they? it is not. we have fought an| they? it is not. we have fought an incredibly— they? it is not. we have fought an incredibly positive campaign. we are speaking _ incredibly positive campaign. we are speaking out for peace, against war, calling _ speaking out for peace, against war, calling for— speaking out for peace, against war, calling for a — speaking out for peace, against war, calling for a cease—fire in gaza, speaking — calling for a cease—fire in gaza, speaking out for an economic policy that actually supports ordinary

working—class people in this country. _ working—class people in this country, gives people hope. let's address— country, gives people hope. let's address the housing crisis, the collapse — address the housing crisis, the collapse in our public services, deal— collapse in our public services, deal with— collapse in our public services, deal with the destruction of our info structure. all these things are possible — info structure. all these things are possible it — info structure. all these things are possible. it takes political will to bring _ possible. it takes political will to bring about a better society, and what _ bring about a better society, and what other political parties offering that? labour in the conservative party are offering the same _ conservative party are offering the same thing. labour say there will be no public— same thing. labour say there will be no public ownership of their utilities _ no public ownership of their utilities and it will sit back and allow— utilities and it will sit back and allow public utilities to rip consumers. british gas profits have increased _ consumers. british gas profits have increased by nearly tenfold and millions — increased by nearly tenfold and millions of people are struggling to pay their— millions of people are struggling to pay their energy bills. what an absolute — pay their energy bills. what an absolute disgrace, what an outrage. people _ absolute disgrace, what an outrage. people want is a public ownership, they want— people want is a public ownership, they want to see hope, they want to see an _ they want to see hope, they want to see an industrial strategy where young _ see an industrial strategy where young people and got hope for a decent _ young people and got hope for a decentjob and a decent young people and got hope for a decent job and a decent future and decent _ decent job and a decent future and decent career.— decent career. chris williamson, thank ou decent career. chris williamson, thank you very — decent career. chris williamson, thank you very much. _ decent career. chris williamson, thank you very much. clearly - decent career. chris williamson, l thank you very much. clearly food for thought, thank you very much. clearly food forthought, particular thank you very much. clearly food for thought, particularfor thank you very much. clearly food for thought, particular for the labour party, if george galloway does pull off this victory here as

his supporters clearly expect that he will tonight, and we will see what the reaction is from the labour leadership into the morning.- leadership into the morning. peter, there was a — leadership into the morning. peter, there was a cheer _ leadership into the morning. peter, there was a cheer behind _ leadership into the morning. peter, there was a cheer behind you - leadership into the morning. peter, there was a cheer behind you whatl leadership into the morning. peter, j there was a cheer behind you what i was going on. any idea what that was for? i was going on. any idea what that was for? . , was going on. any idea what that was for? ., , ., , �* for? i am trying to see... don't know if it _ for? i am trying to see... don't know if it is _ for? i am trying to see... don't know if it is one _ for? i am trying to see. .. don't know if it is one of— for? i am trying to see... don't i know if it is one of the candidates turning up, i don't know if it was the forementioned george galloway. there is something ofa of a scrum around the leader of the... we are told he is actually angry about the campaign, i mentioned that there were. mentioned that there reform angry about the campaign, i mentioned that there reform uk think their candidate simon danczuk was unfairly ta rted by their candidate simon danczuk was unfairly tarted by george galloway�*s supporters. we have 28 to see what he has to say, but reform uk, i don't think very confident of having done much in this by election, having had a local candidate in simon danczuk, and they have not fully come close to doing anything. peter, i am going to let you go and

try and get richard tice from that be a scrum so