George Galloway was heckled by a Just Stop Oil activist just seconds after being elected as Rochdale’s new MP, as he delivered his victory speech during rowdy late-night scenes.
Mr Galloway took to the stage to proclaim his victory as being “for Gaza” – as well as taking aim at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
However, the woman, who also threw orange confetti onto the stage, briefly interrupted, saying: “George Galloway, you took away our future. You are a climate change denier.
“You said in the hustings that you wanted to extract oil from the North Sea and all the coal from under our feet.”
At this point, she was drowned by chants from Mr Galloway’s supporters, who told her to “be quiet” and “get out”, before she was escorted from the hall by security.
Mr Galloway then went on to say he would campaign for the return of a maternity ward to Rochdale and to help save the town’s troubled football club.
His majority of 5,697 votes amounted to 18.3 percent of the total, on a turnout of 39.7 percent, a little higher than the two recent by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood.
Labour withdrew support for its candidate, Azhar Ali, after a recording emerged in which he claimed Israel was complicit in the terrorist attacks of October 7, seeing Mr Galloway become the firm favourite for the seat.
Mr Ali remained listed as the Labour candidate as the party’s decision came too late for ballot papers to be changed.
A Labour spokesperson said: “We deeply regret that the Labour party was unable to field a candidate in this by-election and apologise to the people of Rochdale. George Galloway only won because Labour did not stand.”
A Just Stop Oil activist also targeted Sir Keir yesterday, with another activist delivering him a letter asking that he leave the Labour party if, within six months of them forming Government, it fails to revoke the Tory oil and gas licenses issued since 2021.
Clive Jennings, 72, an artist from Camden, said: “The new oil and gas licenses that Rishi Sunak has been giving away are doing nothing to cut down my energy bills, but they are putting us in massive danger.
“How can the UK be a global leader if we’re not even able to get started with an energy transition? If the Labour Party can’t get behind the public’s demand for safe, cheap renewable energy then clearly there is something seriously wrong with politics.”
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