�*at �* at the age �*at the age of �* at the age of t5. 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 big as well, isn't it? that - it's quite big as well, isn't it? , a, , y that - it's quite big as well, isn't it? , ,~ ., it? yes, absolutely. when you go back to the _ it? yes, absolutely. when you go back to the 2019 _ it? yes, absolutely. when you go back to the 2019 general- it? yes, absolutely. when you go| back to the 2019 general election, you find that the three main parties — conservative, labour, and lib dem — accounted forjust under 90% of all of the votes in this constituency. if we have a situation where george galloway wins and an independent candidate comes second, that will be an enormous reduction in the vote for those three main parties. it emphasises the importance of a firebrand insurgent candidate such as george galloway, but it also emphasises the importance of local issues. increasingly, candidates for all of the main parties have been drawn from local areas rather than parachuted in as they might have beenin parachuted in as they might have been in previous years. a lot of thatis been in previous years. a lot of that is to do with the fact that people value that local presence so highly. david tully, the independent candidate in this case, has campaigned very heavily on the hospital — returning the maternity unit to the hospital that had

previously closed. historically, it's issues like that that can really connect with people. so, having a local candidate campaigning on local issues — in contrast to george galloway, a candidate with no real connection to the area, campaigning on international issues — has been, if you like, a pincer movement for the main parties. at least it appears to be, from what we're hearing so far. h0??? least it appears to be, from what we're hearing so far.— we're hearing so far. how do you think downing — we're hearing so far. how do you think downing street _ we're hearing so far. how do you think downing street and - we're hearing so far. how do you think downing street and the - we're hearing so far. how do you i think downing street and the tories will be looking at this by—election? politics is so often about momentum. in the aftermath of by—elections recently, the momentum has been very much for labour and against the conservatives. the talk has been of record swings of labour performing in line with its national vote and of questions about what the conservatives can do to hang on to seats. none of that is what will be discussed tomorrow and in the coming days. instead, the focus will be on what happened with labour, the attention will go on to them, and then the discussion will be — how do they deal with people like george

galloway? and crucially, the supporters that george galloway has — notjust in rochdale, but in constituencies up and down the country. and to have a bit of time off from the blare of publicity, i'm sure, will be welcomed in downing street — particularly ahead of the budge budget next week. street - particularly ahead of the budge budget next week.- street - particularly ahead of the budge budget next week. yeah. stay with us, budge budget next week. yeah. stay with us. joe- — budge budget next week. yeah. stay with us, joe. you _ budge budget next week. yeah. stay with us, joe. you mentioned - budge budget next week. yeah. stay with us, joe. you mentioned labour. i with us, joe. you mentioned labour. well, labour's shadow immigration minister, stephen kinnick, was asked for his reaction to the by—election. 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 no. 1 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.

joe, it is a point that stephen kinnock was making there — whoever wins isn't actually likely to be the mp for that long because, of course, we've got a general election coming this year? we've got a general election coming this ear? , ., �* , this year? yes, that's right. there could be a — this year? yes, that's right. there could be a general— this year? yes, that's right. there could be a general election - this year? yes, that's right. there could be a general election in - this year? yes, that's right. there l could be a general election in may, for instance. if george galloway does win, he would only be in the houses of parliament for a few months. we would expect that labour would win at a general election but, if the last ten years or so of british politics have taught us anything, it's that nothing can be ruled out entirely. certainly, given that labour won more than 50% of the vote at the last election, you would expect, in a general election, for them to do very well. in fact, in normal circumstances, you would expect a by—election such as this to be a relatively easy win for them. by—elections are always unusual, but this one is particularly unusual in so many respects. but the disavowing of the labour candidate, i think, has had a huge impact. and though george galloway has done very well, i think he really would have

struggled against what presumably would have been quite a formidable labour campaign. would have been quite a formidable labour campaign-— labour campaign. yep. 0k, joe. i “ust want labour campaign. yep. 0k, joe. i just want to _ labour campaign. yep. 0k, joe. i just want to take _ labour campaign. yep. 0k, joe. i just want to take you _ labour campaign. yep. 0k, joe. i just want to take you back - labour campaign. yep. 0k, joe. i just want to take you back to - labour campaign. yep. 0k, joe. i just want to take you back to the | just want to take you back to the live pictures that we have from rochdale. you can see the tables are now looking quite empty, which may suggest that we are getting closer to a declaration. because earlier in the evening, there was a lot of activity as they were counting the votes. but you can see there the tables are clear, which you would imagine means that those ballots have been counted and that they have been now hopefully verified. we were hearing from peter sole, political correspondent at the count, that there were a lot ofjournalists outside. and the reason they were outside. and the reason they were outside is they are waiting for george galloway to arrive. and of course, you can't have a declaration until all the candidates are there. so basically, we are waiting for

george galloway to arrive. earlier in the evening, george galloway�*s party has claimed that it is going to win this by—election comfortably, and that is the mood music on the ground that we've had from our team there, with maybe an independent candidate coming second. so we are waiting for the declaration from the rochdale by—election, which could come very shortly. we were hearing from peter soll it could come in the last 15 minutes it would happen in ten or so minutes. 11 candidates standing in rochdale. the turnout, as you can see on screen, was 39.7%. backin as you can see on screen, was 39.7%. back in the general election in 2019, when sir tony lloyd secured a majority of more than 9,000, turnout there was 60%. but turnout in by—elections are traditionally a lot lower than in a general election. as

i say, there are 11 candidates standing in this by—election, which we are waiting for the result of. as i said, george galloway from the workers party of britain declared an early victory as that counting was continuing. the former labour mp chris williamson, who is now deputy leader of the workers' party of britain, told our political correspondent he is confident of a george galloway victory.— correspondent he is confident of a george galloway victory. we're very confident that _ george galloway victory. we're very confident that it's _ george galloway victory. we're very confident that it's a _ george galloway victory. we're very confident that it's a comfortable - confident that it's a comfortable win for george, and this will send shock waves, i think, through the corridors of power in westminster. more important than that, i think it will give confidence to resurgent campaigns all over the country who are looking for a genuine alternative to the mainstream political parties. because our democracy�*s been stolen from us in this country by both labour and the conservative party — they're on the same page economically and on international policy as well. they've both signed up to the war machine and they've both signed up

to neoliberal economics. people have got no real choice. we're effectively being run by a one—party state, and people are desperate, it seems to me, for an alternative. the workers' party and george galloway provide that alternate, and we think his strong victory this evening will be a real boost to those campaigns all over the country. the main two political parties better watch out when the general election comes. what message does this send to the labour party, particularly, with its position on the middle east? they've comletel position on the middle east? they've completely lost _ position on the middle east? they've completely lost touch _ position on the middle east? they've completely lost touch with _ position on the middle east? they've completely lost touch with reality. i completely lost touch with reality. the labour party is facilitating genocide that's taking place before our very eyes. it's absolutely outrageous that the labour party of all political parties, which has always had a strong peace contingent within it, is now actually supporting genocide. maybe if we could avoid _ supporting genocide. maybe if we could avoid that _ supporting genocide. maybe if we could avoid that language, - supporting genocide. maybe if we could avoid that language, if- supporting genocide. maybe if we | could avoid that language, if that's ok for now, because... could avoid that language, if that's ok for now, because. . ._ ok for now, because... well, i it ma -- ok for now, because... well, i it may -- it — ok for now, because... well, i it may -- it may — ok for now, because... well, i it may -- it may offend, _ ok for now, because... well, i it may -- it may offend, but - ok for now, because... well, i it may -- it may offend, but even. ok for now, because... well, i it i may -- it may offend, but even the may —— it may offend, but even the international court ofjustice has acknowledged there is a plausible genocide going on. when you see the israelis massacring people who are starving queuing up forfood and

israelis massacring people who are starving queuing up for food and the labour party is not actually standing out against that, it's absolutely outrageous.- standing out against that, it's absolutely outrageous. what do you sa to absolutely outrageous. what do you say to people _ absolutely outrageous. what do you say to people who — absolutely outrageous. what do you say to people who say _ absolutely outrageous. what do you say to people who say that - absolutely outrageous. what do you say to people who say that george | say to people who say that george galloway comes into places like this that he's never been to before and just drums up division?— that he's never been to before and just drums up division? well, that's not true at all. _ just drums up division? well, that's not true at all. i _ just drums up division? well, that's not true at all. i mean, _ just drums up division? well, that's not true at all. i mean, george i just drums up division? well, that's not true at all. i mean, george is i not true at all. i mean, george is very strong on local issues. the fact is that the people in rochdale have been badly let down on the local issues — the maternity hospital's been closed, the accident and emergency service is no longer operational here, there is a massive housing crisis, there's huge levels of poverty. in what used to be the fifth—biggest economy, now the sixth—biggest economy, there's no need for anybody in this country to be living in poverty or the deprivation that millions of people across the country, and thousands of people in rochdale, are currently experiencing. and so george, i think, is offering hope to those people. but also, thousands of people. but also, thousands of people in rochdale and millions all over the country are also concerned about international policy as well. and the fact is that our government and the main opposition parties is

actually —— party is actually supporting massacres of innocent palestinian people. people are outraged by this and want to see people speaking out against this. george galloway and the workers' party are doing just that. some george galloway and the workers' party are doing just that.- party are doing “ust that. some of the other party are doing just that. some of the other parties _ party are doing just that. some of the other parties here _ party are doing just that. some of the other parties here think- party are doing just that. some of the other parties here think the i the other parties here think the campaign has been pretty toxic, to be honest, and lay the blame for that at george galloway�*s door. well, they would do, wouldn't they? but it's absolutely not. george galloway has fought and the workers' party have fought an incredibly positive campaign. we're speaking out for peace, against war, calling for a ceasefire in gaza, speaking out for an economic policy that actually supports ordinary working—class people in this country and gives people hope. let's address the housing crisis. let's address the housing crisis. let's address the collapse in our public services. let's deal with the destruction of our infrastructure. all these things are possible. itjust takes political will to bring about a good society. and one of the political parties are offering that. what are the political parties offering? labour and the conservatives are offering the same thing. labour say there'll be no public ownership of our utilities. they're quite happy

to sit back and allow public utilities to rip off consumers. british gas's profits have increased nearly 10—fold and millions of people are struggling to pay their energy bills. what an absolute disgrace. what an outrage. people want to see public ownership of our utilities and railways. they want to see hope, an industrial infrastructure where young people have hope for a decentjob, future and career. have hope for a decent “ob, future and career— have hope for a decent “ob, future and carer— and career. chris william, deputy leader of the _ and career. chris william, deputy leader of the workers' _ and career. chris william, deputy leader of the workers' party i and career. chris william, deputy leader of the workers' party of i leader of the workers' party of britain, there. let's head back to the count in rochdale and our political correspondent. peter, first of all, any news of george galloway arriving yet? ida. first of all, any news of george galloway arriving yet?- first of all, any news of george galloway arriving yet? no, but there are lots of people _ galloway arriving yet? no, but there are lots of people waiting _ galloway arriving yet? no, but there are lots of people waiting outside i are lots of people waiting outside the front door, and i can see a few police officers as well outside the front door, which suggests to me that his arrival is fairly imminent. we were told the declaration would be at now at some point. what needs to happen before that is for all of the candidates to be taken in by the returning officer into the count

just to check the results. there will then be —— they will then be informed of it and come out onto this stage behind me, and the result will be read out. as we've been reporting for the past couple of hours now, the wider expectation is that george galloway has won this seat, has won this by—election here in rochdale. another huge victory, another thing for him to chalk up on another thing for him to chalk up on a long list of political achievements in his career. he's actually stood in every single election, general election, since 1987, and several by—elections in between, with a widely varying degree of success, really. this one looks like it will go down in a similarfashion to looks like it will go down in a similar fashion to bradford west in 2012 when he rode triumphantly in a car around a 2012 when he rode triumphantly in a cararound a car 2012 when he rode triumphantly in a car around a car park after that. we'll see what he does in the wee small hours here in rochdale. what he has successfully done once again, really, is appeal to voters in a town that has a pretty large muslim population at a time that there is a war happening in the middle east and

really speaking to them about their concerns on that issue. if and when he does get into parliament, i'm sure he'll want to be a proverbial pain in the backside to the labour party and to sir keir starmer. yes. party and to sir keir starmer. yes, i'm “ust party and to sir keir starmer. yes, i'm just picking _ party and to sir keir starmer. yes, i'm just picking up _ party and to sir keir starmer. yes, i'm just picking up a _ party and to sir keir starmer. yes, i'm just picking up a quote - party and to sir keir starmer. yes, i'm just picking up a quote from george galloway, who said he would enter like a tornado and shake the walls for gaza. how worried will the labour party be if he does win there? i labour party be if he does win there? ., �* ., labour party be if he does win there? ~' �* ., ., ,., there? i think we'll hear from some labour figures _ there? i think we'll hear from some labour figures tomorrow _ there? i think we'll hear from some labour figures tomorrow and i there? i think we'll hear from some labour figures tomorrow and they'll probably try to play this down and say, "this is all because we pulled our candidate out" and they did that for good reasons does because of the comments he made that were widely alleged to be anti—semitic. he did apologise for them, but they say they did that for the right reasons, and this is because the party has changed and the problems of anti—semitism are, in their view, firmly behind them now — although of course they've still clearly got some issues there in terms of the vetting of their candidate. george galloway will, i'm sure, continue to

make the case — as, it should be noted, some mps on the left of the labour party and those who have been suspended from the labour party, including former leaderjeremy corbyn, continue to make in the commons — that a much stronger stance should be taken against israel by the international community, and the uk should lead on that. i think the other consideration for labour, though, too is that they'll want to be seen as a party of government. they want to be aligned with the position of britain's allies on an international stage. so they've waited up until quite recently before calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, largely aligned now with the position of the united states, australia, new zealand, and other countries too. and they will see that as being far more important in terms of the wider public perception than potentially irritating some of their voters in the british muslim population. the their voters in the british muslim population-— their voters in the british muslim r-oulation. ., ., �*, population. the other thing that's interestinr population. the other thing that's interesting you're _ population. the other thing that's interesting you're hearing - population. the other thing that's interesting you're hearing on i population. the other thing that's interesting you're hearing on the | interesting you're hearing on the ground there — i know you were mentioning this earlier — that an

independent candidate could come second? , ., ., second? yes, we heard from david tuu second? yes, we heard from david tull a second? yes, we heard from david tully a short _ second? yes, we heard from david tully a short while _ second? yes, we heard from david tully a short while ago _ second? yes, we heard from david tully a short while ago here - second? yes, we heard from david tully a short while ago here on i second? yes, we heard from david| tully a short while ago here on bbc news. he is a localfigure in rochdale. yeah, hejust decided news. he is a localfigure in rochdale. yeah, he just decided a few weeks ago that he was fed up with the slate of candidates in front of them, that no—one really in his view, or hardly any of them, were from the town. he runs a local business, and he wanted to stand on local issues. he's managed to get an awful lot of support in a very short space of time. his business is well—known. there's advertising for it all over the place. i suppose he already had a kind of brand awareness. pretty normal chap, really. pretty bemused by the attention on him this evening, i think it's fair to say. let's get a little bit more on the kind of sense of what's happened locally with bbc radio manchester's political reporter kevin fitzpatrick. kevin, just give me a sense of your campaign? it's been an extraordinary one for all of us to cover, really. you've been on the ground right from the start. what's it been like? yeah, right from the start we were out there _ yeah, right from the start we were out there wanting to speak to all 11 candidates. there were loads of

people — candidates. there were loads of people in— candidates. there were loads of people in the running, weren't there? — people in the running, weren't there? including dave tully, another businessman michael howarth. these were a _ businessman michael howarth. these were a couple of guys who thought, "we've _ were a couple of guys who thought, "we've lived in rochdale our whole lives, _ "we've lived in rochdale our whole lives, we're — "we've lived in rochdale our whole lives, we're sick of the negativity and the — lives, we're sick of the negativity and the stories of everything been in decline — and the stories of everything been in decline. we'll try to stand up and make — in decline. we'll try to stand up and make a difference." dave tully, it would _ and make a difference." dave tully, it would appear, has done fantastically well. as you mentioned, he already had the recognition of his name being dave tully. _ recognition of his name being dave tully. and — recognition of his name being dave tully. and i— recognition of his name being dave tully, and i think he owns a car-repair— tully, and i think he owns a car—repair business. he's also a key figure _ car—repair business. he's also a key figure in_ car—repair business. he's also a key figure in a _ car—repair business. he's also a key figure in a local rugby club within the community of amateur sport. so he's been _ the community of amateur sport. so he's been able to get himself out and about — he's been able to get himself out and about. but in terms of the campaign _ and about. but in terms of the campaign more generally — yeah, straightaway, it was clear it was going _ straightaway, it was clear it was going to — straightaway, it was clear it was going to be eventful. no—one could have predicted the twists and turns that we've — have predicted the twists and turns that we've had. i think as soon as george _ that we've had. i think as soon as george galloway — by—election specialist _ george galloway — by—election specialist — threw his name in the hat with _ specialist — threw his name in the hat with a — specialist — threw his name in the hat with a big muslim community here in greater— hat with a big muslim community here in greater manchester and in rochdale particularly, it was clear that gaza — rochdale particularly, it was clear that gaza was going to be a big topic— that gaza was going to be a big topic of— that gaza was going to be a big topic of discussion. and then, as labour's — topic of discussion. and then, as

labour's campaign started to unravel. _ labour's campaign started to unravel, suddenly it was anyone's game _ unravel, suddenly it was anyone's game as— unravel, suddenly it was anyone's game as it — unravel, suddenly it was anyone's game. as it appears to have turned out, right— game. as it appears to have turned out, right up— game. as it appears to have turned out, right up up till the death, it felt like — out, right up up till the death, it felt like everybody thought they were in — felt like everybody thought they were in with a chance. but it does seem _ were in with a chance. but it does seem like — were in with a chance. but it does seem like a — were in with a chance. but it does seem like a couple of people are out in front _ seem like a couple of people are out in front 0t— seem like a couple of people are out in front. .., , seem like a couple of people are out in front. _, , ., in front. of course, there were a very particular — in front. of course, there were a very particular set _ in front. of course, there were a very particular set of _ in front. of course, there were a i very particular set of circumstances here — labour dropping its support for its candidate. what the message seems to be from voters here is a plague on all of the mainstream parties' houses, really. do you get that sense talking to people around greater manchester that they're still a bit fed up with what all of the main parties have been doing, frankly? i the main parties have been doing, frankl ? ., ., the main parties have been doing, frankl ? ~ ., ., ., , .,, frankly? i think a lot of people in northern towns _ frankly? i think a lot of people in northern towns - _ frankly? i think a lot of people in northern towns - the _ frankly? i think a lot of people in northern towns - the towns i frankly? i think a lot of people in northern towns - the towns that| frankly? i think a lot of people in | northern towns - the towns that i northern towns — the towns that i cover— northern towns — the towns that i cover - _ northern towns — the towns that i cover - are — northern towns — the towns that i cover — are frustrated with the politics — cover — are frustrated with the politics of— cover — are frustrated with the politics of the country. there's a feeling — politics of the country. there's a feeling that all this improvement that's— feeling that all this improvement that's been promised hasjust not happened. in rochdale particularly, we've _ happened. in rochdale particularly, we've had _ happened. in rochdale particularly, we've had the grooming scandals, we've _ we've had the grooming scandals, we've had — we've had the grooming scandals, we've had frustration about issues in the _ we've had frustration about issues in the town— we've had frustration about issues in the town centre not being what it used to— in the town centre not being what it used to be — in the town centre not being what it used to be. all our town centres in the north— used to be. all our town centres in the north are — used to be. all our town centres in the north are kind of struggling in terms _ the north are kind of struggling in terms of— the north are kind of struggling in terms of shops. but people who've lived here — terms of shops. but people who've lived here all their lives feel that

it shouldn't be like this — it should _ it shouldn't be like this — it should be _ it shouldn't be like this — it should be better than it is currently. so, yeah, perhaps — particularly _ currently. so, yeah, perhaps — particularly in rochdale, there is that frustration with the status guo~ _ that frustration with the status guo~ we — that frustration with the status quo. we won't really know, will we, everr _ quo. we won't really know, will we, ever. what— quo. we won't really know, will we, ever, what would have happened had labour's _ ever, what would have happened had labour's candidates still been in the race — labour's candidates still been in the race all the way through — potentially he would have done as might— potentially he would have done as might have been expected. they came into this _ might have been expected. they came into this by—election with a 9,500 majority— into this by—election with a 9,500 majority - — into this by—election with a 9,500 majority — 24,000 votes in total at 2019 _ majority — 24,000 votes in total at 2019 the — majority — 24,000 votes in total at 2019. the question tonight is — where — 2019. the question tonight is — where have those votes gone? and would _ where have those votes gone? and would they— where have those votes gone? and would they have stopped with labour had he _ would they have stopped with labour had he not _ would they have stopped with labour had he not ended up being dropped as a candidate? a had he not ended up being dropped as a candidate? �* ., ., ., ~ a candidate? a word on the former mp ton llo d a candidate? a word on the former mp tony lloyd as — a candidate? a word on the former mp tony lloyd as well _ a candidate? a word on the former mp tony lloyd as well - _ a candidate? a word on the former mp tony lloyd as well - he _ a candidate? a word on the former mp tony lloyd as well - he was _ a candidate? a word on the former mp tony lloyd as well - he was very, i tony lloyd as well — he was very, very popular wasn't he, around here? yeah, he was a well—respected politician — yeah, he was a well—respected politician in greater manchester over many years. he was mp in t rafford, — over many years. he was mp in trafford, mp in manchester central. he took— trafford, mp in manchester central. he took a _ trafford, mp in manchester central. he took a couple of years out to become — he took a couple of years out to become the first police and crown commissioner in greater manchester, and stepped up up from there to become — and stepped up up from there to become the first interim mayor — the role that— become the first interim mayor — the role that andy burnham ended up being _ role that andy burnham ended up being as — role that andy burnham ended up

being as well. he actually wanted to being as well. he actually wanted to be the _ being as well. he actually wanted to be the labour mayoral candidate, but andy burnham beat him to that. when the seat _ andy burnham beat him to that. when the seat came up in rochdale, he did five years— the seat came up in rochdale, he did five years as — the seat came up in rochdale, he did five years as a very well—respected mp here _ five years as a very well—respected mp here as— five years as a very well—respected mp here as well. we five years as a very well-respected mp here as well.— mp here as well. we are expecting georre mp here as well. we are expecting george galloway _ mp here as well. we are expecting george galloway to _ mp here as well. we are expecting george galloway to arrive - mp here as well. we are expecting george galloway to arrive any i george galloway to arrive any minute. there are lots of people wearing hi—vis around, which suggests maybe he's about to put in an appearance. what do you think the people of rochdale will expect him to do on their behalf when he actually gets into parliament? well, in any election _ actually gets into parliament? well, in any election like _ actually gets into parliament? well, in any election like this, _ actually gets into parliament? well, in any election like this, there's i in any election like this, there's bil in any election like this, there's big promises made, aren't there? a lot of— big promises made, aren't there? a lot of the _ big promises made, aren't there? a lot of the things the mps were talking — lot of the things the mps were talking about in terms of what they would _ talking about in terms of what they would want to do aren't necessarily within— would want to do aren't necessarily within the — would want to do aren't necessarily within the gift of the mps. so all the candidates were talking about how they — the candidates were talking about how they were going to help revitalise the town centre — that's up revitalise the town centre — that's up to _ revitalise the town centre — that's up to the — revitalise the town centre — that's up to the council, isn't it? there was _ up to the council, isn't it? there was another— up to the council, isn't it? there was another campaign message from george _ was another campaign message from george galloway — that he was going to try— george galloway — that he was going to try and _ george galloway — that he was going to try and bring a maternity ward... these _ to try and bring a maternity ward... these are _ to try and bring a maternity ward... these are things that he can't necessarily do. he can lobby for them, _ necessarily do. he can lobby for them, he — necessarily do. he can lobby for

them, he can have a voice and represent _ them, he can have a voice and represent the people of rochdale and try to get _ represent the people of rochdale and try to get things moving, but in terms _ try to get things moving, but in terms of— try to get things moving, but in terms of his policies — well, he can be a _ terms of his policies — well, he can be a voice — terms of his policies — well, he can be a voice for— terms of his policies — well, he can be a voice for the palestinian people — be a voice for the palestinian people in_ be a voice for the palestinian people in parliament in the way he says that _ people in parliament in the way he says that the labour party hasn't been _ says that the labour party hasn't been and — says that the labour party hasn't been and other parties haven't been. so i been and other parties haven't been. so i think— been and other parties haven't been. so i think we — been and other parties haven't been. so i think we can expect some of that from — so i think we can expect some of that from him. in terms of what he's going _ that from him. in terms of what he's going to _ that from him. in terms of what he's going to do — that from him. in terms of what he's going to do for rochdale — well, well— going to do for rochdale — well, we'll have — going to do for rochdale — well, we'll have to wait and see. he talks a lot about — we'll have to wait and see. he talks a lot about how he could potentially help to _ a lot about how he could potentially help to find potential new owners, help to find potential new owners, he said. _ help to find potential new owners, he said. for— help to find potential new owners, he said, for people going out of business — he said, for people going out of business. these are some of the things— business. these are some of the things he's— business. these are some of the things he's said throughout the campaign. p things he's said throughout the campaign- p— things he's said throughout the cam-rain." , , .,�* , campaign. p presumably he won't be able to help — campaign. p presumably he won't be able to help rochdale _ campaign. p presumably he won't be able to help rochdale much - campaign. p presumably he won't be able to help rochdale much on i campaign. p presumably he won't be able to help rochdale much on the l able to help rochdale much on the pitch...! thank you. great to get that local insight on what's been happening here. you'll find also that when george galloway — as you say, we are assuming he has won this by—election — that declaration due fairly imminently — he willjust be

one of 650 mp5. as much as he's been able to cause an awful lot of noise on the campaign trail here, he might get a little lost in parliament. i'm sure there'll be plenty coming up in the coming days. he may end up mp for rochdale for only a matter of months, because there is a general election around the corner, and labour will select a different general election candidate, and they would hope to very much take back this seat. ., ., would hope to very much take back this seat. ., ,, , would hope to very much take back this seat. . ~' , ., , . this seat. 0k. thank you very much for the moment. _ this seat. 0k. thank you very much for the moment. i'll— this seat. 0k. thank you very much for the moment. i'll let _ this seat. 0k. thank you very much for the moment. i'll let you - this seat. 0k. thank you very much for the moment. i'll let you go i this seat. 0k. thank you very much for the moment. i'll let you go and| for the moment. i'll let you go and see if we can find where george galloway is, because is who we are waiting for at the count. apologies for the little bit of break—up in the signal there in rochdale — sometimes that means there's a lot more mobile phones heading into that area, which could suggest maybe there are more journalists area, which could suggest maybe there are morejournalists moving in and that we may see george galloway shortly at that count because, of course, his team have already claimed that he has won the rochdale by—election and they're already

planning a victory parade. as i said, we are waiting for him to arrive at the count, then, as peter was explaining, they get taken away and the officials give them the sort of result before it is announced on the stage when you see all of the people there and you get the returning officer who comes out and reads out the results. we will, of course, be back in rochdale for that. but ijust want course, be back in rochdale for that. but i just want to talk about reform uk, because their leader, richard tice, was at the count earlier, and peter spoke to him and asked him how his candidate had done tonight. asked him how his candidate had done tonirht. ~ �* , tonight. well, we'll see when the result comes _ tonight. well, we'll see when the result comes out. _ tonight. well, we'll see when the result comes out. it's _ tonight. well, we'll see when the result comes out. it's quite i tonight. well, we'll see when the result comes out. it's quite clear| result comes out. it's quite clear that mr galloway has won. but what i actually want to do — we've put out on socials a statement which i think is important for viewers, listeners, andindeed is important for viewers, listeners, and indeed the british electorate to understand. because the polls have closed, and this has been an extraordinary by—election campaign. we're in a situation where a

parliamentary election will have to ask serious questions — has this genuinely been a free and fair election? unfortunately, the behaviour of certain candidates and their supporters raised serious doubts about that. and they fall far short of our traditional democratic standards here in the uk. in recent weeks, our own candidate has suffered vile racist abuse, death threats, we've had to remove and relocate our staff, we've been refused entry into hustings in council buildings, and we've suffered daily intimidation. our own business supporters have also been threatened with firebombing unless they remove leaflets from their premises. menacing behaviour not only a feature of the campaign, but also today we've actually seen unacceptable behaviour by certain people outside polling stations — intimidation. i'm concerned also about the size of the postal vote, which has dramatically increased from 14,000 to 23,000 or so. ..in

just four years. really? what does that tell us? this by—election needs to act as a serious wake—up call to the whole british people. we're supposed to be a beacon of democracy. but i'm questioning that. unless something dramatic changes, the reality is this scene will be repeated in dozens of constituencies at the general election. and we face, by christmas, the prospect of numerous extremist anti—semitic law—makers in the house of commons. 0k. the people you potentially are referring to are not here to defend themselves. referring to are not here to defend themselves-— referring to are not here to defend themselves.- you've i referring to are not here to defend themselves.- you've made themselves. correct. you've made some very. _ themselves. correct. you've made some very. very — themselves. correct. you've made some very, very strong _ themselves. correct. you've made some very, very strong claims i themselves. correct. you've made i some very, very strong claims there. i have. b. some very, very strong claims there. i have. �* ., ., some very, very strong claims there. ihave.�* ., ., , some very, very strong claims there. ihave. �* ., ., , i have. a lot of people might look at this and _ i have. a lot of people might look at this and - _ i have. a lot of people might look at this and - it _ i have. a lot of people might look at this and - it looks _ i have. a lot of people might look at this and - it looks like - i have. a lot of people might look at this and - it looks like you've l at this and — it looks like you've not done well — and say this is just sour grapes. the not done well - and say this is “ust grapes.— sour grapes. the results are irrelevant. _ sour grapes. the results are irrelevant. it's _ sour grapes. the results are irrelevant. it's the _ sour grapes. the results are i irrelevant. it's the implications for our democracy. how can you run a campaign when you're suffering intimidation, deaths threats, abuse, have to move your staff from premises, your business supporters get threatened with fire—bombs?

that's not democracy. that's what you see in a failed state. the result is irrelevant.— you see in a failed state. the result is irrelevant. you're saying this could be _ result is irrelevant. you're saying this could be repeated _ result is irrelevant. you're saying this could be repeated in - result is irrelevant. you're saying this could be repeated in other i 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? 1's; what evidence do you have to back by—elections? 1a; what evidence do you have to back that by—elections? 123 what evidence do you have to back that up? by-elections? yes. what evidence do you have to back that up? i _ by-elections? yes. what evidence do you have to back that up? i very i you have to back that up? i very clearly said _ you have to back that up? i very clearly said - — you have to back that up? i very clearly said - at _ you have to back that up? i very clearly said - at the _ you have to back that up? i very clearly said - at the general i clearly said — at the general election. certain constituencies in the uk. we need to understand what is going on here. flan the uk. we need to understand what is going on here-— is going on here. can you give some s-ecific is going on here. can you give some specific examples... _ is going on here. can you give some specific examples... i've _ is going on here. can you give some specific examples... i've given i is going on here. can you give some i specific examples... i've given them to ou. specific examples... i've given them to you- there _ specific examples... i've given them to you- there is _ specific examples... i've given them to you. there is a _ specific examples... i've given them to you. there is a video _ specific examples... i've given them to you. there is a video circulating l to you. there is a video circulating online — you clearly haven't seen — of vile, racist deaths threats and abuse to my candidate earlier this week. we've got supporters being threatened with fire bombs. i've had to move my staff. at this count, all my staff have left. i’ee to move my staff. at this count, all my staff have left.— my staff have left. i've been here all nirht, my staff have left. i've been here all night. and _ my staff have left. i've been here all night, and i've _ my staff have left. i've been here all night, and i've not— my staff have left. i've been here all night, and i've not spotted i my staff have left. i've been here| all night, and i've not spotted any of this kind of thing going on, to be honest. of this kind of thing going on, to be honest-— of this kind of thing going on, to be honest. yeah. that's because ou're be honest. yeah. that's because you're the _ be honest. yeah. that's because you're the media. _ be honest. yeah. that's because you're the media. you're - be honest. yeah. that's because you're the media. you're not i be honest. yeah. that's because you're the media. you're not the candidate. you're not the people and the staff of reform uk. i've had to bring in security guards in the last few days in order to keep my team safe. , , ., ., safe. 0k. it seems to me a little bit like you're — safe. 0k. it seems to me a little bit like you're distracting - safe. 0k. it seems to me a little bit like you're distracting away i bit like you're distracting away from the fact that your candidate

has not performed well at this by—election, 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 i all. the reality is no—one's done well except mr galloway. but the implications for our democracy are very serious indeed. is that really how we want our by—elections conducted? is that how we want our general election conducted? these general election conducted ? these are general election conducted? these are serious questions for people. i'm just putting out there what we've experienced. other people may disagree. but i'm telling you, this is what's happened on the ground here in rochdale. and how can you run a proper campaign like that? this is the worst i've ever experienced in my political life. some of my team have been in politics 30 years and have never seen anything like it. to suggest that it's sour grapes, frankly, is a nonsense. that is the leader of reform uk, richard tice, talking to our political correspondent, making quite a few claims there a little earlier in the evening. i want to take you back to the live pictures from rochdale. there, you can see the stage is set up and, in the last

couple of minutes, while we were listening to richard tice, a lot more people entered that room, many of them wearing rosettes — a part of the campaign teams. there are 11 candidates who are standing in this by—election. as we have heard, george galloway — who is from the workers' party of britain — says that he has won there. you can see political correspondent pete has been with us all night, moving around trying to find out what's going on with the otherjournalists. the lady you can just see is annabelle tiffon who's just arrived, bbc north west's political editor, who's also trying to find out what's going on. she was the one who said george galloway�*s party were already planning an election victory rally. so we are expecting, i think, that result very shortly now, hopefully. we were waiting for george galloway to arrive. that is what the delay

has been about — waiting for him to arrive at the count. what then happens is, once all of the candidates are there, they get taken away by the election officials and told the result before they come onto the stage and then we get that official declaration from the returning officer that we're all used to seeing on an election night and by—election night, of course. alsojoining us and by—election night, of course. also joining us throughout the night is the polling expertjoe twyman from deltapoll. joe, i wanted to pick up on that issue that richard tice made — concerns about the safety, as we go forward. this is an issue at the moment for the political parties, isn't it? yes, this was raised during the recent debate on gaza which attracted so much attention for the speaker and, attracted so much attention for the speakerand, of attracted so much attention for the speaker and, of course, this comes in the aftermath of two mps being

murdered within recent memory. and so the safety of all our elected representatives, and candidates, will be extremely important and continue to be extremely important in the run—up to the election this year or very early next year. do you think there was a sense the public — and i was at one of the by—elections up in wellingborough, and there were a lot of people saying to me this had lost faith in our politics and our politicians. basically, they were saying to me they didn't believe them when they said things. from the polling that you do, is that a sense that you can see across the country?— see across the country? well, it's sometimes _ see across the country? well, it's sometimes easy _ see across the country? well, it's sometimes easy to _ see across the country? well, it's sometimes easy to overestimate | see across the country? well, it's i sometimes easy to overestimate the degree to which that is a new phenomenon. when the houses of parliament caught fire in 1826, people gathered on the other side of the thames to cheer. so it's not a new thing. but it is the case in recent years, back to the start of

the 20005, we've had a succession of events — whether it's the iraq war, the sovereign debt crisis, the financial crisis, the expenses scandal — which have collectively helped to undermine trust in not just british politicians and political parties, but the political process generally. and we've seen, proce55 generally. and we've seen, out of that, parties such process generally. and we've seen, out of that, parties such as reform or before that the brexit party and ukip, emerge to satisfy the desire that some people have to vote against the mainstream parties. and in many ways, tonight is another example of that. we may have a situation where galloway comes first and an independent candidate, david tully, comes second. to create a pincer movement on the main parties. but it's worth considering that you could argue that the labour party have,in could argue that the labour party have, in some ways, brought this upon themselves by failing to select a candidate in the first place who they had not done due diligence on. i think that's prance an

interpretation.