whether it's the iraq war, 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, 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. but nonetheless, it's because of the withdrawal of the official labour candidate that we've seen george galloway be able to come in and, as i say, we assume win tonight. d0 to come in and, as i say, we assume win tonight-— win tonight. do you think, as we look ahead _ win tonight. do you think, as we look ahead to _ win tonight. do you think, as we look ahead to a _ win tonight. do you think, as we look ahead to a general - win tonight. do you think, as we | look ahead to a general election, there is going to be a lot more scrutiny on the candidates put forward, approximate particularly with the era of social media we're in and all of the vitriol that you see flying around on social media? it's a really good question, whether it's it's a really good question, whether its social media or whether it's camera phones, the world of technology has changed and the degree of public scrutiny to which our candidates and elected officials are subjected to. and of course we're now entering a stage where some of the candidates who will be standing at the next general election will have been spending their entire lives online and people will be able to go back to tweets that people sent perhaps when they

were at university or school even and scrutinise their views and beliefs then. now, in this particular instance, it wasn't historical comments that were made. these were recent comments made by the labour candidate that proved to be so damaging, but it does emphasise the difficulty that all parties face in selecting candidates and conducting due diligence. if it's difficult new enough to do that for one candidate at a by—election, imagine how difficult it is to do for over 600 candidates in the run—up to a general election. haw run-up to a general election. how hard is it for— run-up to a general election. how hard is it for the _ run—up to a general election. how hard is it for the political parties to cut through with the message that they want to hear over all of that noise that is "no" on social media? well, it's very much a challenge for both the individuals themselves and the parties to cut through. in fact, this is one of the main difficulties that our polls have shown the conservatives have had, particularly when it comes to their economic policies. all the announcements that

were made in the last nine months for instance — whether it's were made in the last nine months for instance — whether its policy announcement, whether it's photocalls wearing hard hats in factories, or whether it's something like the autumn statement — up in this week, over the last nine months, there's been very little change in the percentage of people who think that the conservatives are best on the economy. statistically, it's been flat for nine months because they haven't been able to cut through. and i think that's less to do with social media, though, and more to do with the ability of the party themselves to connect with voters. but the challenge that all parties will face going into the next election is the question of connecting, connecting with voters up connecting, connecting with voters up and down the country on local issues, on national issues and international issues. that will and be a challenge for all of the parties. be a challenge for all of the arties. �* , ., ., be a challenge for all of the arties. �*, ., ., , ., parties. it's going to be a fascinating _ parties. it's going to be a fascinating general- parties. it's going to be a i fascinating general election parties. it's going to be a - fascinating general election this time around because of all of the things you've said and also, if we look at social media and the disinformation that's there, the ai—generated things that are already

flying around on social media, that will play a part in this general election that we really haven't seen in this country before.— in this country before. yes. that's ri . ht. in this country before. yes. that's right- we've _ in this country before. yes. that's right. we've had _ in this country before. yes. that's right. we've had a _ in this country before. yes. that's right. we've had a small - in this country before. yes. that's right. we've had a small inkling . in this country before. yes. that's| right. we've had a small inkling of it with and the deep—fake voice message from sadiq khan, where a fake voice or actor or ai—generated — we're not sure, i don't think what it was — but anyway it pretended to be sadiq khan, saying that the armistice day parade was not important and that the protests for palestinians should take priority. that was not true. i’m palestinians should take priority. that was not true.— that was not true. i'm going to -ause that was not true. i'm going to pause you _ that was not true. i'm going to pause you because _ that was not true. i'm going to pause you because i _ that was not true. i'm going to pause you because i want - that was not true. i'm going to pause you because i want to i that was not true. i'm going to - pause you because i want to explain that george galloway, as you can see on your screen, has now arrived at the count. you can see him there in his hat, which he's worn a lot during this campaign in rochdale. you can see him there in the middle of your screen. his party, the workers party of britain, has already claimed that it has won this by—election comfortably. his team

are saying that his victory will represent a total rejection of mainstream party politics. and also they're saying that not only do they believe that they've won comfortably, but they think it will send shock waves — their words — through the palace of westminster. but also his team saying that it will give hope to tens of thousands if, if not millions, of people in the country who are looking for a general alternative, because our democracy has been stolen from us. that is what george galloway�*s team are saying. you can see that he has arrived there at the count. this is what we were waiting for — for him to arrive. so we probably think that, as he has arrived, that a declaration won't be too far away. you can see some—of—the other candidates there. i think that is probably the monster raving loony party there as well. there are 11

candidates in all standing in this rochdale by—election which, of course, came about after the death of the veteran labour mp sir tony lloyd. he died on 17 january, just days after he had announced that he had an incurable form of leukaemia. he secured a majority of more than 9,000 back in the 2019 general election. it will be interesting to see if george galloway does win, as is being suggested, what his majority will be in this election. we've got a turnout of nearly 40% in this election. in a general election, it was 60% back in 2019. of course, when there is a by—election, you always have a lower turnout. we're going to stay on these pictures, but i want to bring joe back in. joe, a sort of 39.7%

turnout — that's about average, maybe a little higher — for a by—election? maybe a little higher - for a bit-election?— maybe a little higher - for a by-election? maybe a little higher - for a b -election? 3 , , . by-election? it's pretty much bang on average — by-election? it's pretty much bang on average for _ by-election? it's pretty much bang on average for the _ by-election? it's pretty much bang on average for the recent - by-election? it's pretty much bang on average for the recent set - by-election? it's pretty much bang on average for the recent set of. on average for the recent set of by—elections, a little lower than we saw in kingswood and wellingborough — sorry, a little higher than we've seenin — sorry, a little higher than we've seen in those but a little lower than we saw towards the end of last year. but, as i say, around about average. so no indication that the endorsement of labour being removed from azhar ali has impacted on turnout there. yeah. absolutely. and if george galloway — if viewers are just joining us, we are sort of coming up to 2:a0 in the morning. we have been saying that george galloway is confident of a victory here. joe, if he did win, what would that mean for the other parties? and how big a win would it be?— would it be? well, it would certainly — would it be? well, it would certainly be _ would it be? well, it would certainly be an _ would it be? well, it would certainly be an enormous, | would it be? well, it would - certainly be an enormous, enormous victory by historical standards in terms of collapse for the major

parties. at the last general election, labour, conservative and liberal democrat made up 90% of the votes in rochdale. a big fall there would be unprecedent id in historical standards. of course, the situation in rochdale is very unusual and the circumstances of this particular by—election are not what you would expect either at other by—elections or a general election. but nonetheless, the fact remains that would be a very big change and i'm sure the message of... the message that mainstream parties were unable for various reasons to connect with voters in rochdale is one that we will hear repeated time and again by mr galloway, his team and his supporters and, indeed, many of the other candidates over the next few weeks. we're going to stay on these pictures. you can see the candidates are all lined up there, which would suggest that they've already do know what the result is. because normally before you see them all lined up, the election officials will have told them what's already happened and what the result is. you saw

george galloway there being hugged in the centre of the screen. the other candidates, of course, this all... the reason it's been quite chaotic is because, of course, azhar ali won the contest to be labour's candidate, and appeared as their candidate, and appeared as their candidate on the ballot paper. but labour disowned and suspended him over remarks that were widely alleged to be anti—semitic. he, himself, said sorry for what he had said, but this is the reason why the labour party have not campaigned hard in that area, because they withdrew support from their candidate, which, as we said, means that george galloway has gone in. and he won, you'll remember, the bradford west by—election in 2012, another constituency which has a significant muslim population. now, as we've been hearing through the evening, his critics accuse him of stoking division in towns that he's previously had hill to do with. in

his campaign, it had a heavy focus, as we've been hearing, on the plight of the people in gaza, and he, himself, has said he offers a voice to people who otherwise wouldn't have one. he, of course, himself, is a former labour mp and respect mp. he has focused on the 30% of the community which is muslim. we heard earlierfrom richard tice, leader of reform uk which was the brexit party. their candidate is simon danczuk. now, he was actually the mp for rochdale until 2017. at that time, he was a labour mp but labour suspended him after he sent lewd texts to a 17—year—old girl, for which he has apologised. during the campaign, he, in his campaigning, had said that it was a two—horse race between him and george galloway. it does now seem that an

independent candidate, dave tully, is, if we... if the correspondents on the ground are hearing that he could come seconds, which would be unusual. when it comes to the conservatives, their canned date is called paul ellison. he's 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. it has been a chaotic by—election. the green party disowned the candidate they initially selected to fight the contest called guy otten over remarks he made about the middle east on social media, making derogatory remarks about the muslim faith. the local party then backed independent mark coleman, a retired vicar and just stop oil activist who was previouslyjailed for non—violent direct action. he was given a suspended this week for

causing a public nuisance by blocking traffic on the m25 in september 2021 as part of an insulate britain protest. so, all in all, this whole by—election has had all, this whole by—election has had a range of candidates, some with their issues. we've had two who've been suspended by their party and, of course, it wouldn't be a british by—election without also a monster raving loony candidate who has brought maybe some light relief to all of the campaigning that has been going on in rochdale over the last weeks. i know the monster raving loony party candidate, one of his campaign issues was the introduction of a 99p coin as well as for all roundabouts to have fair ground carousels in the middle. so we've had everything in this by—election. have you ever known, joe, a by—election like this one? ha.

have you ever known, joe, a by-election like this one? no. this is uniuue by-election like this one? no. this is unique by _ by-election like this one? no. this is unique by historical— by-election like this one? no. this is unique by historical standards. l is unique by historical standards. there have been occasions where candidates have been disavowed by their party. for instance in 2019 at their party. for instance in 2019 at the general election, both the conservatives and the snp disavoid their candidates and there have been by—elections, as we've talked about, where insurgent candidates such as george galloway and indeed on some occasions galloway himself, have entered the fray and done very well. and we've had occasions where former mps have stood under a different banner to run for a different party. but as anyone who's observed politics over the years will know, to get one of those is unusual. to get all three in one by—election is unique. this is unprecedented times. so given the unprecedented circumstances, it is perhaps no surprise that the result may be unprecedented in terms of that collapse for the three main parties.

yeah. and how worried will the three main parties be about that collapse? will they just say this was a one—off unusual by—election? or will there be more concern? one-off unusual by-election? or will there be more concern?— one-off unusual by-election? or will there be more concern? well, i don't think the lib — there be more concern? well, i don't think the lib dems... _ there be more concern? well, i don't think the lib dems. .. the _ there be more concern? well, i don't think the lib dems. .. the returning l think the lib dems... the returning officer is coming _ think the lib dems... the returning officer is coming up. _ think the lib dems... the returning officer is coming up. let's - think the lib dems... the returning officer is coming up. let's have - think the lib dems... the returning officer is coming up. let's have a i officer is coming up. let's have a listen. good evening, ladies and gentlemen. thank you for your patience. would the candidates join thank you for your patience. would the candidatesjoin me on thank you for your patience. would the candidates join me on the stage, please? g0 the candidates 'oin me on the stage, lease? ,., ., , please? go on, tully! i please? go on, tully! i steve _ please? go on, tully! i steve rumbelo, - please? go on, tully! l i steve rumbelo, being please? go on, tully! - i steve rumbelo, being the please? go on, tully! _ i steve rumbelo, being the acting returning officer at the election of a member of parliament for rochdale on 29 february, 2024, do hereby give notice that the number of votes recorded for each candidate is as follows: azhar ali, labour party candidate, 2,402. mark coleman, 455.

simon christopher danczuk, reform uk candidate, 1,968. iain donaldson, liberal democrat candidate, 2,164. applause paul simon ellison, the conservative party candidate, 3,731. applause george galloway, workers party of britain candidate, 12,... cheering 12,335. michael howarth, independent candidate, 246. applause william howarth, independent

candidate, 523.