Just hours following George Galloway’s triumphant victory in the Rochdale byelection in March, the UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stood outside Number 10 Downing Street, delivering a portentous address. He accused the renowned left-wing campaigner of “exalting” Islamists and stirred up claims that Muslim “radicals” were fuelling demonstrations over Gaza.
Galloway, casually lounging at his desk in his constituency office, recalls running into Sunak in the hallway after his darkly shadowed speech. Donning his signature fedora, the unique gruff voice of the Glasgow native reveals, “I confronted him about that ludicrous act he performed. However, I can’t disclose our exact conversation’s details.”
However, Galloway unambiguously indicates that Sunak subtly conveyed the idea that each time he connects Muslims—who are firm Galloway supporters—”with sinister forces”, it only serves to widen the rift between this community, typically Labour supporters, and Labour leader Keir Starmer, a committed supporter of Israel.
Drawing away Muslim voters from their traditional support of Labour is what Galloway infers, suggesting that the more Starmer alienates these followers, the more they turn to his Workers Party of Britain, setting their sights on Labour-held seats in the upcoming general election on July 4th.
“Sunak’s viewpoint would translate to: ‘I actually helped you out'”, is Galloway’s summary understanding from their private interaction. Muslim resentment towards Starmer over his stance on Israel and his initial refusal to demand a Gaza ceasefire had already weakened Labour’s stance in the March local elections. This discontent threatens to escalate in the forthcoming month. Statistics from the BBC propose that Labour’s vote share in regions with substantial Muslim populations dropped by over a fifth in the May local elections.
LabourList, a political website supporting the party whilst maintaining its independence, suggests that an internal system for Labour campaigners now reflects that at least 16 constituencies with significant Muslim voter populations have shifted from “secure” to “contested” status for the upcoming general election.
Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader of Labour and one of Galloway’s targets, was recently recorded on a mobile device appealing to a gathering of Muslim men to vote for her, pleading “you got me over the line” in her previous victory.
Concerns that Labour is growing apart from Muslims in Britain might not endanger its position in the upcoming elections, given the significant lead it sustains over the Conservatives. Regardless, this is a dispute Labour leader Keir Starmer struggles to resolve. The town of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, known for its working-class residents and high concentration of Muslims, paints a vivid image of the party’s obstacles.
While Rochdale is just a quick train journey from Manchester’s centre, its lifestyle varies significantly from the plush environment echoed in Westminster. A study from Loughborough University shows the local borough ranks as the 15th most disadvantaged in England. The child poverty in the area stands at a staggering 45 percent, with one-fifth of its electorate being Muslims.
Arriving in Rochdale via train, one of the first sights is an immense election poster displaying Galloway’s face against a Palestinian flag backdrop. The poster is located on the exterior of a Muslim-run business, Haji’s Cash & Carry.
In the western community surrounding Tweedale Street, the Muslim population is dominant. As per Google maps, the town features at least 25 mosques. One mosque, the Christia, is situated adjacent to the Coronation Inn pub, demonstrating how distinct communities coexist here.
The strains Rochdale faces become evident near its centre, particularly during lunch hours when the queue for the Rochdale Soup Kitchen stretches long. Many in line appear to be homeless white men.
Galloway, in addition to aiding Palestinians, is frequently scrutinized for his forceful criticism of Israel. His electoral victory followed widespread discontent in the Muslim community towards Labour. The campaign led by Anzhar Ali, a Muslim councillor and candidate for Labour, collapsed following the loss of party support due to promoting conspiracy theories about attacks on October 7th.
Galloway, confident of repeating his victory, admits Nigel Farage’s Reform UK may put up a strong fight. Labour candidate Ian Waugh, a former journalist in Westminster, has not commented on the matter.
The Workers Party of Britain, represented by Galloway and others including cricket star Monty Panesar, is “in theory” contesting 326 constituencies. Galloway believes he would be let down if they don’t secure at least 10 seats, although achieving this looks ambitious given Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system.
Is Gaza the party’s sole concern?
“We champion the interests of working-class communities, not issues of Gaza. Notwithstanding, if we were to focus on a specific issue, it would clearly be Gaza – it’s not comparable to the situation faced by badgers in rural areas but rather the world’s ethical hub at the moment,” asserts Galloway.
Galloway’s disdain for Starmer appears to be intense. He has described Starmer as a dull, charmless version of Blairism, void of humour, finesse, or flair. According to Galloway, were the Labour Party’s separation from the Muslim community to be unending, they would stand to gain from this.