look at this and lot of people might look at this and say it looks like you've not done well here. is this just sour grapes? the result�*s irrelevant. it's the the result's irrelevant. it's the implication force democracy. how can you run_ implication force democracy. how can you run a _ implication force democracy. how can you run a campaign when you're suffering — you run a campaign when you're suffering intimidation, death threats, _ suffering intimidation, death threats, abuse, have you to move your— threats, abuse, have you to move your is_ threats, abuse, have you to move your is staff — threats, abuse, have you to move your is staff from premises, your business — your is staff from premises, your business supporters get threatened with firebombs. that's not a democracy. it's the sort of thing you see — democracy. it's the sort of thing you see in — democracy. it's the sort of thing you see in a _ democracy. it's the sort of thing you see in a failed state. the results— you see in a failed state. the result's irrelevant.— you see in a failed state. the result's irrelevant. you're saying this could _ result's irrelevant. you're saying this could be _ result's irrelevant. you're saying this could be repeated _ result's irrelevant. you're saying this could be repeated in - result's irrelevant. you're saying this could be repeated in other l this could be repeated in other by—elections? this could be repeated in other by-elections?_ this could be repeated in other by—elections? yes. what evidence do by-elections? yes. what evidence do ou have by-elections? yes. what evidence do you have to — by—elections? yes. what evidence do you have to back this up? by-elections? yes. what evidence do you have to back this up? no, - by-elections? yes. what evidence do you have to back this up? no, i- you have to back this up? no, i clearly said _ you have to back this up? no, i clearly said at _ you have to back this up? no, i clearly said at the _ you have to back this up? no, i clearly said at the general- clearly said at the general election. it will be certain constituencies in the uk. we need to understand _ constituencies in the uk. we need to understand what is going on here. can you _ understand what is going on here. can you give some specific examples... can you give some specific examples. . ._ can you give some specific examples... can you give some specific examles. .. �* ., i. examples... i've given them to you. there is a — examples... i've given them to you. there is a video _ examples... i've given them to you. there is a video circulating - examples... i've given them to you. there is a video circulating online i there is a video circulating online that you — there is a video circulating online that you clearly haven't seen of vile. _ that you clearly haven't seen of vile. racist— that you clearly haven't seen of vile, racist death threats, abuse, to nry— vile, racist death threats, abuse, to my candidate earlier this week. right? _ to my candidate earlier this week. right? we've got supporters being threatened with firebombs. i've had to move _ threatened with firebombs. i've had to move nry— threatened with firebombs. i've had to move my staff, at this count, all my staff _

to move my staff, at this count, all my staff have left. i�*ve to move my staff, at this count, all my staff have left.— my staff have left. i've been here all niuht my staff have left. i've been here all night and _ my staff have left. i've been here all night and not _ my staff have left. i've been here all night and not spotted - my staff have left. i've been here all night and not spotted any - my staff have left. i've been here all night and not spotted any of. all night and not spotted any of this thing going on.— all night and not spotted any of this thing going on. that's because ou're the this thing going on. that's because you're the media, _ this thing going on. that's because you're the media, not _ this thing going on. that's because you're the media, not the - this thing going on. that's because l you're the media, not the candidate, not the _ you're the media, not the candidate, not the people and the staff of reform — not the people and the staff of reform uk. i've had to bring in security— reform uk. i've had to bring in security guards in the last few days in order— security guards in the last few days in order to — security guards in the last few days in orderto keep security guards in the last few days in order to keep my team receive. 0k. in order to keep my team receive. 0k~ it _ in order to keep my team receive. 0k. it seems to me a little bit like you're detracting from the fact that your candidate has not performed well and it's been won by someone you fundamentally dislike politically. you're saying that's not the case.— politically. you're saying that's not the case. . �*, ., , ., not the case. that's not the case at all. the not the case. that's not the case at all- the reality _ not the case. that's not the case at all. the reality is _ not the case. that's not the case at all. the reality is no-one's - not the case. that's not the case at all. the reality is no-one's done . all. the reality is no—one's done well— all. the reality is no—one's done well except— all. the reality is no—one's done well except mr galloway, but the implications for our democracy are very serious — implications for our democracy are very serious indeed. is that really how we _ very serious indeed. is that really how we want our by—elections conducted? is that how we want our general— conducted? is that how we want our general election conducted? these are serious— general election conducted? these are serious questions for people. i'm are serious questions for people. i'm putting — are serious questions for people. i'm putting out there what we've experienced. others may disagree. but this— experienced. others may disagree. but this is— experienced. others may disagree. but this is what's happened on the ground _ but this is what's happened on the ground here in rochdale. how can you run a _ ground here in rochdale. how can you run a proper— ground here in rochdale. how can you run a proper campaign like that? this is— run a proper campaign like that? this is the — run a proper campaign like that? this is the worst i've experienced in my— this is the worst i've experienced in my political life. some of my

team _ in my political life. some of my team have _ in my political life. some of my team have been in politics for 30 years _ team have been in politics for 30 years and — team have been in politics for 30 years and they've never seen anything _ years and they've never seen anything like t to suggest it's sour grapes _ anything like t to suggest it's sour grapes is, — anything like t to suggest it's sour grapes is, frankly, a nonsense. that is richard tice, _ grapes is, frankly, a nonsense. trust is richard tice, leader of reform uk, making strong claims about the campaign. pete, the campaign has been chaotic, hasn't it? if we think back, this became chaotic when labour suspended their candidate. what news of him?— labour suspended their candidate. what news of him? yeah, i mine this is a crucial — what news of him? yeah, i mine this is a crucial element _ what news of him? yeah, i mine this is a crucial element in _ is a crucial element in understanding this by—election, isn't it? the fact that going into it a few weeks ago, the labour party, probably were confident of holding onto a seat vacated by the death of a popular former labour mp tony lloyd. they selected a candidate who was relatively local, not quite a local candidate from here but a councilly from up the road in burnley. they felt he'd been properly vetted. then reports emerged, the first where he made a claim that somehow israel had allowed the october 7 attacks as a premise to go on for what it has

donein premise to go on for what it has done in gaza. he apologised for that. labour initially stood by him. but then another recording emerged of him making comments that were widely alleged to be anti—semitic and so he was dropped by the party. and that meant that there was no campaign effort behind him really. there was some school of thought perhaps that because a lot of the postal votes had started to come in when it happened, and also shah that some of the campaign material had gone out, that he might still do well. butjudging by what activists are saying here this evening, it seems like labour and their candidate are quite a long way behind the leader in george galloway. and, yeah, for labour this is the nightmare scenario, really, of this individual in george galloway, you know, who has stood very much in a platform in opposition to his foremaner party, returning to parliament. what opposition to his foremaner party, returning to parliament.— opposition to his foremaner party, returning to parliament. what do you think the labour _ returning to parliament. what do you think the labour leadership _ returning to parliament. what do you think the labour leadership will - returning to parliament. what do you think the labour leadership will be i think the labour leadership will be thinking if george galloway does win? i thinking if george galloway does win? ~ , . ~

win? i think they will be thinking auestions win? i think they will be thinking questions about _ win? i think they will be thinking questions about the _ win? i think they will be thinking questions about the seats - win? i think they will be thinking | questions about the seats they're holding and defending where there are large muslim populations, the kinds of views espoused by george galloway about the need for a ceasefire much more quickly and a stronger stance against what israel is doing, will come up time and time again. for labour also, they've wanted to move on from the problems of the jeremy corbyn wanted to move on from the problems of thejeremy corbyn era, lots of issues to do with anti—semitism at that time anyway. keir starmer said he's firmly changed the party and put that in the rear—view miry. the question of what is happening at the moment is political parties are trying to keep their various coalitions together, labour in particular, i think. coalitions together, labour in particular, ithink. because it's had a traditional support base british muslims. but quite whether it will be enough when it comes to a general election to affect the overall result is a different matter. i think it will be more relaxed than this individual result might suggest here tonight. he

probably could read a little bit too much into it. there's always a danger of that with by—elections, particularly this one, because there are a very particular set of local circumstances here to do with the dropping of the labour candidate and the fact that george galloway is this pretty formidable campaigner and has done this kind of thing before. i and has done this kind of thing before. . . . . and has done this kind of thing before. ., , , ., and has done this kind of thing before. . , , ., ,, before. i assume that downing street will probably — before. i assume that downing street will probably be _ before. i assume that downing street will probably be breathing _ before. i assume that downing street will probably be breathing a - before. i assume that downing street will probably be breathing a little - will probably be breathing a little bit of a sigh of relief because the last couple of by—elections, or the media focus has been on the tory party because they lost them to labour. . ., �* , party because they lost them to labour. . . �* , ~ ., labour. yeah, that's right. although the conservative _ labour. yeah, that's right. although the conservative candidate - labour. yeah, that's right. although the conservative candidate by - labour. yeah, that's right. although the conservative candidate by all. the conservative candidate by all accounts has not done very well here either. i suppose the main concern for the conservatives in a place like this is that reform uk perform particularly well, lots of concern in the tory party about them shedding votes to their right flank and the kinds of views that reform represent. of course, we had a labour mp, ora represent. of course, we had a labour mp, or a conservative mp in lee anderson suspended just last week over comments that a lot of people consider to be islamaphobic.

he has said that he doesn't believe that that is the case and some people suggest now that he might ultimatelyjoin reform uk. no sign of that quite yet. but the fact that reform don't appear to have polled particularly well here — we'll wait and see when the result eventually comes — it will be a bit of a sigh of relief for downing street. but i think all of the parties will have to address some of the concerns raised by the leader of richard tice about what this says about the state of our democracy, whether the campaigns like this need to be better policed. we had an announcement from the government just this week about security, safety of mps, more patrols, potential bodyguards outside constituency offices, that kind of thing. and it does seem like this issue of intimidation related to people's views about what is going into the middle east and the way it is interacting with politics is something we'll be talking about for something we'll be talking about for some time. find something we'll be talking about for some time. �* ., something we'll be talking about for some time. . ., _, , ., some time. and of course with a aeneral some time. and of course with a general election _ some time. and of course with a general election campaign - some time. and of course with a general election campaign this l some time. and of course with a - general election campaign this year, even more focused that this could be

a problem across the country. that was the point that richard tice was making, wasn't it? he said in his words that extremists could be elected in lots of different constituencies. of course, when it comes to a general election, the focus is much more on what is happening nationally on the party leaders, a little bit less on the ground campaign — although that is very, very important indeed. i think what might have happened here actually had azhar ali not been dropped by the labour party is labour would have sent in an awful lot of activists, there'd have been lots of people knocking on doors, making sure people were aware of what was going on nationally with labour and supporting their candidate locally and this might not have happened here. in fact, labour were pretty relaxed, you know, before all this stuff happened to do with azhar ali. but it is a reminder that democracy, you know, and votes, can never be taken for granted and notjust for george galloway in the early hours of the morning potentially but also talking earlier

to david tully, an independent, local businessman, brand new to politics, said he wanted to take a stand because he felt a lot of candidates weren't from his town and weren't representing the issues that matter to people here. a reminder that voters can be pretty fickle and aren't always going to vote along the same lines that they have for generations! yeah, and mr tully showing that local issues do matter to voters. it’s showing that local issues do matter to voters. �* , ., showing that local issues do matter to voters. �*, ., , to voters. it's not 'ust those national h to voters. it's not 'ust those national policies. _ to voters. it's notjust those| national policies. absolutely to voters. it's notjust those - national policies. absolutely they do. and i suppose _ national policies. absolutely they do. and i suppose after - national policies. absolutely they do. and i suppose after the - national policies. absolutely they - do. and i suppose after the pandemic as well, more people working from home, they're probably, you know, more aware of what is going on in their immediate environment. they care about crime and policing, anti—social behaviour. potholes is the thing that keeps coming up when you speak to politicians on the doorstep, the state of the local parks, rivers and other waterways. so, yeah, people do really care about what is happening in their immediate neighbourhood and what the parties nationally are doing to address them. and when you've got someone who genuinely understands their local community, whether or not they are representing any of the

mainstream parties, that is something that is always going to win voters over. i can see behind you the monster raving loony party. a great british tradition at elections that they stand a lots. any idea at the moment, pete, what time we might get that result? what's happening around you? what's the mood there? well. that result? what's happening around you? what's the mood there? well, as i sa , you? what's the mood there? well, as i say. we're — you? what's the mood there? well, as i say. we'rejust_ you? what's the mood there? well, as i say, we're just waiting _ you? what's the mood there? well, as i say, we're just waiting now— you? what's the mood there? well, as i say, we're just waiting now for - i say, we're just waiting now for the declaration. we're expecting it to come probably in the next five to ten minutes or so. george galloway is yet to arrive, incidentally. so most of the journalists are not inside here, but outside, waiting for him to arrive. and then, obviously, we'll hope to speak to him after the declaration here on bbc news. but, yeah, monster raving loony party always like to get involved, don't they? and the costumes are interesting and they, i suppose, will be hoping to have picked up quite a few votes here too, because it's been splintered, really, the vote, because of the fact that the mainstream parties have lost an awful lot of support here. . ., i.

here. yeah, have you ever, ever known a — here. yeah, have you ever, ever known a by-election _ here. yeah, have you ever, ever known a by-election like - here. yeah, have you ever, ever known a by-election like this? i | known a by—election like this? i think pete may have lost us. i'll try again. have you ever, ever, pete, known a by—election like this? i can't remember a by—election like this, no. usually when you cover elections as a journalist, you're looking at swing and what it tells us about the state of the main parties in westminster. but this really is not about that at all. it's about an individual in george galloway who's been around british politics for many, many years now, keeps coming back. and here he is making quite a big comeback to lthlthlthlthlth once again potentially. and it is also about the power of local people and them choosing elected representatives that might be, you know, sticking two fingers up, frankly, to the two main parties down in westminster. so, yeah, i'm sure it will send shivers down the spines of the likes of rishi sunak and keir starmer, these two men who want to be two prime minister beyond the general election. of course, it will be one

of those two men. it's not going to be any independent candidates, but it's a reminder, as i say, that no votes can be taken for granted in any election. votes can be taken for granted in any election-— any election. absolutely. finally before i let _ any election. absolutely. finally before i let you _ any election. absolutely. finally before i let you go, _ any election. absolutely. finally before i let you go, i _ any election. absolutely. finally before i let you go, i want - any election. absolutely. finally before i let you go, i want to . any election. absolutely. finally before i let you go, i want to go j before i let you go, i want to go back. have all the pies gone? yes. all the pies — back. have all the pies gone? yes. all the pies went _ back. have all the pies gone? yes. all the pies went about _ back. have all the pies gone? is; all the pies went about three hours ago. so, yeah, i'm afraid i can't bring you any back, nicky. but i've got one waiting for me. i picked up a cheese and onion one because i was reliably informed that that one would keep and could be eaten cold. i'm going to have that as a snack after the declaration, because there'll still be plenty of work too do, i'm sure! there'll still be plenty of work too do. i'm sure!— there'll still be plenty of work too do, i'm sure! indeed. you're going to be there — do, i'm sure! indeed. you're going to be there for _ do, i'm sure! indeed. you're going to be there for a _ do, i'm sure! indeed. you're going to be there for a fair _ do, i'm sure! indeed. you're going to be there for a fair few— do, i'm sure! indeed. you're going to be there for a fair few hours - do, i'm sure! indeed. you're going to be there for a fair few hours to l to be there for a fair few hours to come. and we're seeing — we saw some pictures of the pies and they do look rather nice. pete, i'm going to let you go off and find out when the declaration may be, maybe in the next quarter of an hour or so. we with will come back to you as soon as you know anymore. we were talking about how george galloway�*s team think that they have won it. indeed they're already planning a victory parade in the town. well,

interestingly, nigel farage has claimed a george galloway victory in rochdale would embolden candidates other independent candidates. he spoke early yesterday and said mr galloway would have little power as a backbencher but could influence british politics in other ways. as we've heard, critics of mr galloway have accused him of stoking divisions in towns he has previously had little to do with and his campaign in rochdale has focused on the constituency�*s 30% muslim population. mr farage said whether it is in tower hamlets, spark hill, or where ever in the country, it will embolden people to think that a vote for a candidate who thinks what's happening in gaza is more important than what is happening in britain, it will embolden that movement and maybe they'll win a few more seats at a general election. well, let's get more on the sort of

outlook across the whole of the united kingdom and how this by—election ties in with that, because with us all night has been a members ever the pollsters delta poll. i'm interested on that point. if george galloway wins, how big an impact will it have on politics in general? impact will it have on politics in ueneral? �* . impact will it have on politics in ueneral? �* , ., impact will it have on politics in ueneral? �*, ., , ., ., general? there's two ways to look at this. you could _ general? there's two ways to look at this. you could look _ general? there's two ways to look at this. you could look at _ general? there's two ways to look at this. you could look at this _ general? there's two ways to look at this. you could look at this in - this. you could look at this in terms of his impact in parliament, just one mp representing a party with only one mp in the house of commons. so from that perspective, he can make a few speeches and ask a few questions, but his impact is going to be relatively limited. but — and this is the really important point — the impact that he could have more generally is enormous, not least because the next few days could be dominated by coverage of this result and we will see time and again george galloway, his team, his supporters, all over the front pages of the newspapers, all over the news broadcasts, talking about the issues

they want to talk about, promoting their view of politics and making their view of politics and making the point that they have been making throughout this campaign. and those are the kind of things that labour will, at best, feel very uncomfortable about, and at worst could feel particularly undermined because of the impact it could have in certain areas. what this victory represents is the opportunity for people like george galloway and people like george galloway and people like george galloway and people like them to elevate their position nationally and place themselves on a national stage in a way they haven't been able to up until this point. joe, stay with us here on bbc news. if you arejustjoining us, you're watching bbc news. it's 2am and this is continuing coverage of the rochdale by—election. the scene at the rochdale leisure centre is where the rochdale leisure centre is where the votes are being counted. we know that turnout was 39.7%. voters in the greater manchester seat are choosing a new mp following the

death of sir tony lloyd, who died in january at the age of 73. we are being told to expect a result very soon. the campaigning itself has been described as chaotic. labour, you'll remember, disowned its candidate, azhar ali, after comments he made in the last couple of hours george galloway from the workers party of britain has claimed that he has won the by—election. indeed, they are already planning a victory parade in the town. remember, dis an independent candidate, david tully, is also doing well and could come second. speaking on bbc news, leader of reform uk richard tice alleged cam pain intimidation. joe twymouth is still with us. we were talking about the ripple effect if george galloway wins. interestingly, also, this campaign has an independent that could come

second. just at the significance of that — it's quite