2024 Rochdale by-election

Rochdale is a constituency in the North West region of England, located in the east of Greater Manchester.{{Cite web |title=Seat Details – Rochdale |url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Rochdale |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=Electoral Calculus}} The constituency is based on the town of the same name.

Following the 1997 general election, Rochdale was considered a Labour–Liberal Democrat marginal.{{Cite web |title=VOTE 2001 {{!}} Results & Constituencies {{!}} Rochdale |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/482.stm |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=BBC News}} This changed when the UK Independence Party finished second in the 2015 general election.{{Cite news |title=Rochdale parliamentary constituency – Election 2019 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000897#election2015-logo |access-date=17 January 2024 |language=en-GB}} In the 2016 European Union membership referendum, Rochdale voted 3:2 in favour of Brexit.{{Cite web |last=Statham |first=Nick |date=24 June 2016 |title=EU referendum: Rochdale votes to leave |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/eu-referendum-results-rochdale-leave-11518196 |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}

The constituency has above average unemployment and many people living in poverty.{{Cite web |last=McKeegan |first=Alice |date=18 September 2009 |title=Rochdale unemployment hits 6 per cent |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/rochdale-unemployment-hits-6-per-930226 |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}} British Asians make up 18.5% of the population.{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=How life has changed in Rochdale: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E08000005/ |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=ONS |language=en}} Since 1997, the constituency has also included the semi-rural suburb of Littleborough, one of the relatively prosperous areas of the borough. A by-election last took place in this area in 1995, in the former Littleborough and Saddleworth constituency. The Liberal Democrats won the by-election, though Labour won both successor constituencies (the other being Oldham East and Saddleworth) at the 1997 general election. At the 2019 general election, there was a 60.1% turnout with an electorate of 78,909. Following the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, the composition of the constituency was subject to minor boundary changes at the 2024 general election to bring the electorate within the permitted range, with the Spotland and Falinge ward being transferred to the new constituency of Heywood and Middleton North.{{Cite web |title=The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1230/schedules/made |at=Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region}}

File:Official Portrait of Sir Tony Lloyd MP crop 2.jpg served as the MP for Rochdale from 2017 until his death in 2024.]]

Tony Lloyd was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency in the 2017 general election, and was re-elected in the 2019 general election.{{Cite web |date=17 January 2024 |title=Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd dies days after announcing terminal cancer diagnosis |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/tony-lloyd-labour-rochdale-rachel-reeves-rishi-sunak-b2480262.html |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=The Independent |language=en}} He had previously been a Labour MP between 1983 and 2012,{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary career for Tony Lloyd |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/450/career |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=parliament.uk}} the interim Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2015 to 2017,{{Cite news |last=Perraudin |first=Frances |date=11 February 2016 |title=Labour's Tony Lloyd announces Greater Manchester mayoral bid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/11/labour-tony-lloyd-greater-manchester-mayoral-bid-devolution |access-date=18 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 1997 to 1999.

Shortly after his election as MP for Rochdale, Lloyd returned to frontbench politics as Shadow Housing Minister in the Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn from 2017 to 2018. He was promoted to Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 2018 and became Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland in 2019.{{Cite news |date=23 March 2018 |title=Jeremy Corbyn sacks Labour's Owen Smith over referendum call |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43521321 |access-date=18 January 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=19 December 2019 |title=Labour MP for Rochdale announced new shadow Secretary for Scotland |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18112487.labour-mp-rochdale-announced-new-scottish-shadow-secretary/ |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=The National |language=en}} He was replaced as Shadow Scotland Secretary in the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer but continued as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.{{Cite news |last1=Syal |first1=Rajeev |last2=McIntyre |first2=Niamh |last3=Duncan |first3=Pamela |last4=Barr |first4=Caelainn |date=6 April 2020 |title=Ed Miliband returns to Labour frontbench in Keir Starmer reshuffle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/06/ed-miliband-returns-to-labour-frontbench-in-keir-starmer-reshuffle |access-date=18 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} He resigned from the frontbench in 2020 to recover from COVID-19.{{Cite web |last=Abbit |first=Beth |date=28 April 2020 |title=Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd steps down from front bench after spell in ICU |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/rochdale-mp-tony-lloyd-steps-18162289 |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}

In January 2023, Lloyd announced that he was undergoing chemotherapy after a diagnosis for cancer, and subsequently did not attend parliament or face-to-face functions under medical advice.{{Cite news |date=16 January 2023 |title=Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd reveals chemotherapy treatment after diagnosis |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-64291173 |access-date=18 January 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Sir Tony Lloyd to hold advice surgeries via telephone or Zoom as MP undergoes chemotherapy |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/150026/sir-tony-lloyd-to-hold-advice-surgeries-via-telephone-or-zoom-as-mp-undergoes-chemotherapy |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=Rochdale Online |language=en-gb}} On 11 January 2024, he stated that he had an untreatable form of leukaemia and had decided to end hospital treatment to spend his remaining time with his family.{{Cite news|title=Veteran Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd says he has untreatable form of leukaemia |url=https://news.sky.com/story/veteran-labour-mp-sir-tony-lloyd-says-he-has-untreatable-form-of-leukaemia-13046269 |author= Scott, Jennifer|date = 11 January 2024|access-date=3 March 2024 |work=Sky News}}{{Cite news |date=11 January 2024 |title=Labour MP Tony Lloyd reveals he has untreatable leukaemia |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-67949505 |access-date=17 January 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} His family announced that he had "died peacefully" at home in the morning of 17 January.{{Cite news |last1=Adu |first1=Aletha |date=17 January 2024 |title=Labour MP Tony Lloyd dies 'surrounded by family' at age of 73 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/17/labour-mp-tony-lloyd-dies-surrounded-by-family-at-age-of-73 |access-date=17 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last=Barton |first=Alex |date=17 January 2024 |title=Sir Tony Lloyd, Rochdale Labour MP, dies 'peacefully at home' aged 73 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/01/17/sir-tony-lloyd-rochdale-labour-mp-dies/ |access-date=17 January 2024 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

On 29 January 2024, the writ was moved in the House of Commons, with the by-election due to take place on 29 February 2024.{{cite web |title=A message from the family of the late Sir Tony Lloyd MP |url=https://twitter.com/tony4rochdale/status/1751981487719670084 |website=Twitter |publisher=@tony4rochdale |access-date=29 January 2024 |date=29 January 2024}}

Azhar Ali, who had been a candidate for the Westminster seat of Pendle in 2015 and 2019,{{Cite news |last=Khan |first=Shuiab |date=27 January 2024 |title=Brierfield's Azhar Ali announced as Labour candidate for Rochdale |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24079049.brierfields-azhar-ali-announced-labour-candidate-rochdale/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240128101336/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24079049.brierfields-azhar-ali-announced-labour-candidate-rochdale/ |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=Lancashire Telegraph}} was selected as the Labour Party candidate on 27 January 2024. He is a Lancashire county councillor and was, at the time of his selection, the leader of the Labour group on the council. He was selected from a shortlist of three, including Westminster lobby journalist Paul Waugh, and Nazia Rehman, a member of Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and cabinet member.{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/labour-choose-lancashire-council-leader-28523343|title=Labour choose Lancashire council leader to fight Rochdale by-election following death of Sir Tony Lloyd|first=Damon|last=Wilkinson|date=27 January 2024|access-date=27 January 2024|work=Manchester Evening News}} During the campaign, the Daily Mail obtained a recording of a meeting at which Ali suggested that Israel had allowed the 7 October offensive to go ahead, in order to "green light" an invasion of Gaza. Upon the publication of the recording, Ali retracted his comments and apologised.{{Cite web |title=Labour candidate 'wrong' to say Israel allowed 7 October attack – but will still stand in by-election |url=https://news.sky.com/story/labour-candidate-wrong-to-say-israel-allowed-7-october-attack-but-will-still-stand-in-by-election-13069105 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Sky News |language=en}} Following information about other comments made by Ali,{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Archie |last2=Devlin |first2=Kate |title=Revealed: Leaked audio of Labour Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali's anti-Israel comments |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-rochdale-israel-azhar-ali-election-b2495351.html |access-date=13 February 2024 |work=The Independent |date=13 February 2024}} Labour withdrew its support on 12 February, and the party announced it would no longer devote resources to his campaign.{{Cite news |date=2024-02-12 |title=Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68280098|website=BBC|access-date=2024-02-12 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last1=Courea |first1=Eleni |last2=Adu |first2=Aletha |date=2024-02-12 |title=Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate after Israel-Gaza remarks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/12/labour-withdraws-support-for-rochdale-candidate-after-israel-gaza-remarks |access-date=2024-02-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Prior to the withdrawal, Ali had received abuse for Labour's position on Israel, despite his own support for Palestine.{{Cite news |last=Pidd |first=Helen |date=2024-02-11 |title='The ultimate protest against Labour': George Galloway's bid to win Rochdale |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/11/the-ultimate-protest-against-labour-george-galloways-bid-to-win-rochdale |access-date=2024-02-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Simon Danczuk was selected as the candidate for Reform UK. Danczuk was the Labour MP for Rochdale from 2010 until 2015, when he was suspended from the party after it emerged he had exchanged explicit messages with a 17-year-old girl.{{Cite news |title=Danczuk on sexting: 'I was in a dark place' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-36069952 |access-date=1 February 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} He then sat as an independent until the 2017 election, when he ran for re-election as an independent, but finished in fifth place with 1.8 per cent, losing his deposit.{{Cite news |title=Rochdale parliamentary constituency – Election 2019 – BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000897 |access-date=1 February 2024 |language=en-GB}} Despite the right-wing orientation of Reform UK, Danczuk campaigned as an "old Labour" candidate with a focus on local issues, rather than what he describes as the "woke" politics of the Labour Party, or the Israel-Palestine conflict.{{Cite web |last=Hayward |first=Freddie |date=2023-05-12 |title=Who supports Reform UK? |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2023/05/reform-uk-britain-resentful-right |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Jessica |date=2024-02-13 |title=Who are the Rochdale byelection candidates – and what do they stand for? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/13/who-are-the-rochdale-byelection-candidates-and-what-do-they-stand-for |access-date=2024-02-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} According to Reform UK leader Richard Tice, Danczuk and Reform were the subject of violent threats during the campaign, including a threat to firebomb businesses whose owners campaigned for Reform.{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/reform-say-rochdale-election-not-28733799|title=Reform say Rochdale by-election was not 'free and fair' amid death threat claim|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|date=1 March 2024|last=Timan|first=Joseph}} One man was arrested for malicious communication for threatening Danczuk.{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-02-27/rochdale-by-election-candidate-receives-serious-death-threats|title=Man arrested after Rochdale by-election candidate receives alleged 'serious death threats'|newspaper=ITV|date=27 February 2024}}

Iain Donaldson was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate; he was also the party's candidate for the nearby constituency of Blackley and Middleton South at the 2024 general election. He stated that his intention would be to hold the government to account over the NHS, cost of living crisis, and tolerance of water pollution. He received the endorsement of Paul Rowen, the constituency's most recent Liberal Democrat MP. Donaldson was a councillor in Manchester for 19 years, and worked as an administrator at the University of Manchester.{{Cite web |title=Rochdale by-election: Lib Dem candidate Iain Donaldson launches campaign |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/155028/rochdale-byelection-lib-dem-candidate-iain-donaldson-launches-campaign |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.rochdaleonline.co.uk |language=en-gb}}

Conservative Party candidate Paul Ellison owns a local landscaping firm. He was named "Man of Rochdale" in 2019 for his involvement with the Royal Horticultural Society's In Bloom campaign.{{cite news |title=Rochdale by-election: Candidates list |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-68250468 |access-date=13 February 2024 |publisher=BBC News |date=12 February 2024}}{{cite news |title=Paul Ellison and Ray Smith – Man of Rochdale 2019 joint winners |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131504/paul-ellison-and-ray-smith-man-of-rochdale-2019-joint-winners |access-date=13 February 2024 |agency=Rochdale Online |date=22 November 2019}} His focus was on improving the town centre, reducing antisocial behaviours, and protecting greenery in Rochdale. He expressed concern over Rochdale's negative image.

Former Labour and Respect Party MP George Galloway contested the seat for the Workers Party of Britain.{{cite news|date=27 January 2024|title=George Galloway throws his hat into the ring for Rochdale by-election to 'teach Labour a lesson'|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/george-galloway-throws-hat-ring-28524793|access-date=27 January 2024 |work=Manchester Evening News|first=William|last=Morgan}} He focused his campaign on support for Gaza. The Labour candidate, Azhar Ali, said Galloway's campaign focused on Muslim voters in Rochdale.{{Cite web |title=Residents of Rochdale caught up in increasingly toxic by-election campaign |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d6678003-7d84-44a6-aad1-801760d6cf06 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Financial Times}} Freelance writer and socialist activist Michael Chessum wrote that Galloway's campaign sent out more than one letter to constituents during the campaign. One addressed issues most salient to Muslim voters, in particular focusing on the war in Gaza and using Arabic phrases such as "As-salamu alaykum" and "ummah", while the other highlighted "Galloway's record of backing Brexit, opposing Scottish independence and supporting family values".{{Cite news |last=Chessum |first=Michael |date=2024-03-03 |title=Writing off George Galloway ignores his dangerous appeal to both far left and right |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2024/mar/03/writing-off-george-galloway-ignores-his-dangerous-appeal-to-both-far-left-and-right |access-date=2024-03-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=George Galloway wins divisive Rochdale by-election |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5c0b4fdb-c93d-4182-9b6a-3d4ce930ae41 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.ft.com}}{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=J. N. |title=Galloway leaflets Muslim voters in Rochdale with false Starmer Israel claim |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/galloway-leaflets-muslim-voters-in-rochdale-with-false-starmer-israel-claim/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.jewishnews.co.uk |date=29 February 2024 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |author=Tom Belger |author2=Morgan Jones |date=2024-03-01 |title=Rochdale by-election: Results breakdown and analysis as George Galloway says 'this is for Gaza' |url=https://labourlist.org/2024/03/rochdale-by-election-full-results-breakdown-azhar-ali-george-galloway-who-win-mp/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=LabourList |language=en-GB}} On 19 February, a Liberal Democrat candidate for the 2024 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council election was suspended by the party after being photographed campaigning with Galloway.{{Cite web |title=Lib Dems suspend Rochdale council candidate after LBC reveal he was campaigning for George Galloway |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/lib-dems-urged-to-suspend-rochdale-council-candidate/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=LBC |language=en}} Galloway was endorsed by former BNP leader Nick Griffin, which Galloway rejected, describing it as "unwelcome".{{cite web | url=https://www.ft.com/content/fc541a7f-4af2-4532-8915-e5d8262f3550 | title='Macho' all-male Rochdale by-election fuels political divisions over Gaza }}

Guy Otten was selected as the Green Party candidate. He is a retired solicitor and tribunal judge. On 7 February, after derogatory social media posts on Gaza and the Muslim faith he had made between 2013 and 2015 came to light, the party announced that they were no longer endorsing his candidacy. Otten subsequently said that he had "decided to leave the stage", and would not campaign in the election.{{cite news|url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/155089/rochdale-byelection-green-party-candidate-no-longer-endorsed-by-party-just-weeks-before-voters-go-to-the-polls|title=Rochdale by-election: Green Party candidate no longer endorsed by party just weeks before voters go to the polls|date=7 February 2024|access-date=12 February 2024|first=George|last=Lythgoe|work=Rochdale Online}}{{cite news |last1=Chakelian |first1=Anoosh |title=Rochdale's by-election brings the Gaza war to Britain |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/02/rochdales-by-election-brings-the-gaza-war-to-britain |access-date=17 March 2024 |work=New Statesman |date=21 February 2024}}

There were four independent candidates. The most successful was David Tully (b. 1974), owner of a local vehicle repair shop,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-68445381|title=The vehicle repair shop owner who came second in Rochdale by-election|date=1 March 2024|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} who campaigned on various local issues,{{Cite web |title=Rochdale By-Election 2024: David Tully |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/election-pitch/1743/david-tully |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=www.rochdaleonline.co.uk |language=en-gb}} including the reinstatement of a local maternity ward, and support for local sports teams Rochdale AFC and Rochdale Hornets.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-03-01 |title=David Tully: Who is the surprise dark horse of the Rochdale by-election? |url=https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/01032024-david-tully-who-is-the-surprise-dark-horse-of-the-rochdale-by-election/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Mancunian Matters |language=en-GB}} He began his independent campaign four weeks before the election and received 6,638 votes, more than the Conservatives and Labour combined.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/155110/rochdale-byelection-independent-david-tully-reveals-local-reasons-behind-decision-to-stand-for-mp|title=Rochdale by-election: independent David Tully reveals local reasons behind decision to stand for MP|website=www.rochdaleonline.co.uk}}

Michael Howarth is a local business owner who owns a number of bars in Rochdale and campaigned on local issues and support for additional NHS funding.{{Cite web |title=Vicolo del Vino – bottoms up at Rochdale's new wine cellar |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/1/business-news/103807/vicolo-del-vino-bottoms-up-at-rochdale%E2%80%99s-new-wine-cellar |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=www.rochdaleonline.co.uk |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Rochdale By-Election 2024: Michael Howarth |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/election-pitch/1742/michael-howarth |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.rochdaleonline.co.uk |language=en-gb}} William Howarth campaigned on issues related to the Rochdale child sex abuse ring and child sexual abuse at large, having previously founded the organisation Parents Against Grooming.{{Cite web |title=Rochdale By-Election 2024: William Howarth |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/election-pitch/1741/william-howarth |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.rochdaleonline.co.uk |language=en-gb}} Mark Coleman is a climate change activist and former vicar of Rochdale who campaigned for "radical action on climate".{{Cite web |title=Rochdale By-Election 2024: Mark Coleman |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/election-pitch/1735/mark-coleman |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=www.rochdaleonline.co.uk |language=en-gb}} He was jailed in April 2023 for his part in a Just Stop Oil protest in Bishopsgate, London. Despite running as an independent, he had the support of two local Labour Party officers. He formerly ran as a Green Party candidate for council elections in Liverpool.{{Cite web |title=Twice jailed Just Stop Oil supporter Mark Coleman to stand in parliamentary by-election |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/154968/twice-jailed-just-stop-oil-supporter-mark-coleman-to-stand-in-parliamentary-byelection |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=www.rochdaleonline.co.uk |language=en-gb}} The BBC reported that Green Party activists had been campaigning for Coleman, since their own candidate, Guy Otten, dropped out of the contest.{{cite web |last1=Wheeler |first1=Brian |title=Rochdale: Is this the most chaotic by-election ever? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68375450 |website=BBC News |access-date=26 February 2024 |date=24 February 2024}}

The Official Monster Raving Loony Party, a joke party that is a perennial contender in by-elections, was on the ballot. Candidate Ravin Rodent Subortna campaigned for the introduction of a 99p coin and the eradication of homelessness amongst hedgehogs.

The result marked the first by-election in Great Britain since the 1945 Combined Scottish Universities by-election at which neither of the two best-performing candidates were from the Conservative Party, Labour, or Liberal Democrats. 167 ballots were rejected, equivalent to a 0.5% share of the total votes cast.

File:2024 Rochdale by-election.svg

{{Election box begin|

|title=2024 Rochdale by-election{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.rochdale.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=249&RPID=30596971|title=Election results for Rochdale, 29 February 2024|first=Rochdale Metropolitan Borough|last=Council|date=29 February 2024|website=democracy.rochdale.gov.uk}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party=Workers Party of Britain

|candidate=George Galloway

|votes=12,335

|percentage=39.7

|change=N/A

|color=780021

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party=Independent|candidate=David Tully

|votes=6,638

|percentage=21.3

|change=N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party=Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate=Paul Ellison

|votes=3,731

|percentage=12.0

|change=–19.2

}}

{{Election box candidate|

|party=Labour Party (UK){{efn|name=Ali|Ali was suspended from the Labour Party on 12 February 2024, after nominations closed (2 February), so he was still identified as the Labour Party candidate on the ballot paper.}}

|color={{#invoke:Political party|fetch|Labour Party (UK)|color}}

|candidate=Azhar Ali

|votes=2,402

|percentage= 7.7

|change=–43.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate=Iain Donaldson

|votes=2,164

|percentage=7.0

|change=±0.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party=Reform UK

|candidate=Simon Danczuk

|votes=1,968

|percentage=6.3

|change=–1.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party=Independent politician

|candidate=William Howarth

|votes=523

|percentage=1.7

|change=N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party=Independent politician

|candidate=Mark Coleman

|votes=455

|percentage=1.5

|change=N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate|

|party=Green Party of England and Wales{{efn|The Green Party withdrew Otten's endorsement on 7 February 2024, after nominations closed (2 February), so he was still identified as the Green Party candidate on the ballot paper.}}

|color={{#invoke:Political party|fetch|Green Party of England and Wales|color}}

|candidate=Guy Otten

|votes=436

|percentage=1.4

|change=–0.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party=Independent politician

|candidate=Michael Howarth

|votes=246

|percentage=0.8

|change=N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party=Official Monster Raving Loony Party

|candidate=Ravin Rodent Subortna

|votes=209

|percentage=0.7

|change=N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes=5,697

|percentage=18.4

|change=N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes=31,107

|percentage=39.7

|change=–20.4

}}

{{Election box Registered electors|

|reg. electors =

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

| winner = Workers Party of Britain

| loser = Labour Party (UK)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2019: Rochdale{{cite web|url=http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/pdf/2019-11-14-candidates-nominated-v1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116193656/http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/pdf/2019-11-14-candidates-nominated-v1.pdf|archive-date=16 November 2019|title=Statement of persons nominated|publisher=Rochdale Borough Council|date=14 November 2019}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link||party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Tony Lloyd|votes=24,475|percentage=51.6|change=–6.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Atifa Shah|votes=14,807|percentage=31.2|change=+2.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Brexit Party|candidate=Chris Green|votes=3,867|percentage=8.2|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Andy Kelly|votes=3,312|percentage=7.0|change=–1.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Sarah Croke|votes=986|percentage=2.1|change=N/A}}

{{Election box majority|votes=9,668|percentage=20.4|change=–9.2}}

{{Election box turnout|votes=47,447|percentage=60.1|change=–4.0}}

{{Election box hold with party link|winner=Labour Party (UK)|swing=–4.6}}

{{Election box end}}

The Israel–Hamas war dominated the campaign. In his election victory speech, Galloway said: "Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza. You will pay a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Gaza, in the Gaza Strip".{{cite web |last1=Halliday |first1=Josh |last2=Ahmed |first2=Aneesa |title=George Galloway wins sweeping victory in Rochdale byelection, saying 'this is for Gaza' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/01/george-galloway-wins-rochdale-byelection |website=The Guardian |access-date=1 March 2024 |date=1 March 2024}}{{cite news | last1=Halliday | first1=Josh | last2=Ahmed | first2=Aneesa | title=George Galloway wins Rochdale byelection after calling for Gaza protest vote | newspaper=The Guardian | date=1 March 2024 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/01/george-galloway-wins-rochdale-byelection | access-date=1 March 2024}} Alluding to the size of his win, over the Labour and Conservative candidates, he said, "Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak are two cheeks of the same backside and they both got well and truly spanked tonight here in Rochdale."{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68443430|title=Rochdale by-election: Landslide win for George Galloway|date=1 March 2024|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

Galloway also claimed he had been approached by Richard Tice to be the Reform UK party candidate.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=97&v=nA94wXElD6c |title=Rochdale by-election winner George Galloway speaks to LBC |date=2024-03-01 |last=LBC |access-date=2025-01-29 |via=YouTube}}

During Galloway's victory speech a heckler accused him of being a climate change denier.{{cite news |date= 1 March 2024 |title= Rochdale: George Galloway heckled on climate during winning speech |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-68443592 |work= BBC News |access-date= 3 March 2024}}{{cite news |date= 1 March 2024 |title= Moment climate protestor disrupts George Galloway by-election victory speech |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/george-galloway-rochdale-climate-protestor-b2505258.html |work= The Independent |access-date= 3 March 2024}} The heckler stated that Galloway said at a hustings that he wanted to "extract oil and gas from the North Sea".{{cite news |date= 1 March 2024 |title= Watch: Galloway heckled by Just Stop Oil during victory speech |url= https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/watch-galloway-heckled-by-just-stop-oil-during-victory-speech/ |work= The Spectator |access-date= 3 March 2024}}

The largest Jewish community organisation in the UK, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, claimed that Galloway's victory marked "a dark day" for Britain's Jewish community.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-01 |title=Veteran British left-wing disruptor George Galloway wins a special election dominated by war in Gaza |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-galloway-ap-israel-labour-party-muslim-b2505661.html |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

On 1 March, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a press conference outside 10 Downing Street, at which he spoke about what he called the "shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality" in Britain. During the conference he said, "And it's beyond alarming that last night, the Rochdale by-election returned a candidate that dismisses the horror of what happened on 7 October, who glorifies Hezbollah and is endorsed by Nick Griffin, the racist former leader of the BNP".{{cite news |title=PM rails against 'extremist forces trying to tear us apart' in Downing Street address |url=https://news.sky.com/story/pm-rails-against-extremist-forces-trying-to-tear-us-apart-in-downing-street-address-13084624 |access-date=3 March 2024 |date = 2 March 2024|work=Sky News |publisher=}}

Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer issued an apology to the people of Rochdale, saying, "I regret we had to withdraw our candidate, and apologise to voters in Rochdale. I took that decision. It was the right decision." He stated that Labour's candidate in the next general election would be a "unifier".{{cite news |title=Rochdale by-election: Keir Starmer apologises to voters after George Galloway win |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68446423 |work=BBC News |date=March 2024 |access-date=1 March 2024}}

Reform UK performed worse than its Brexit Party counterpart in 2019, although Danczuk did win enough votes to retain his deposit, unlike his run as an independent in 2017. Richard Tice, leader of Reform UK, alleged that the election was rigged and said that Danczuk had received several threats during the campaign.

• International reactions to the Gaza war
• List of United Kingdom by-elections (2010–present)
• 2012 Bradford West by-election

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commonscatinline}}

{{By-elections to the 58th UK Parliament}}

Rochdale

Category:2024 elections in the United Kingdom

Rochdale

Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Greater Manchester constituencies

Category:Elections in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale

Rochdale

Category:George Galloway

Category:Political controversies in the United Kingdom

Category:Rochdale

Category:British political candidates

Category:Labour Party (UK) scandals

Category:Reactions to the Israel–Hamas war

Category:Keir Starmer controversies