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George Galloway wins Bradford West by-election | George Galloway wins Bradford West by-election |
(40 minutes later) | |
Respect Party candidate George Galloway has won the Bradford West by-election, taking the seat from Labour by more than 10,000 votes. | Respect Party candidate George Galloway has won the Bradford West by-election, taking the seat from Labour by more than 10,000 votes. |
Mr Galloway, expelled by Labour in 2003, said it was the "most sensational victory" in by-election history. He received 18,341 votes - a 56% share. | |
He said his victory represented a "total rejection" of the major parties. | |
Labour's Marsha Singh, who resigned on health grounds, had a majority of 5,763 at the 2010 General Election. | |
The party had held the seat since 1974, except for a brief period in the 1980s when the sitting MP defected to the SDP. | |
Labour candidate Imran Hussein came second with 8,201 votes as the party's share of the vote was 20% down on its 2010 figure. | |
'Bradford spring' | |
Conservative candidate Jackie Whiteley was third, with 2,746 votes. Jeanette Sunderland, of the Liberal Democrats, secured 1,505 votes. | Conservative candidate Jackie Whiteley was third, with 2,746 votes. Jeanette Sunderland, of the Liberal Democrats, secured 1,505 votes. |
Mr Galloway, who co-founded the anti-war Respect Party after leaving Labour, said the result represented the "Bradford Spring". | |
He said the "mammoth majority" and "mammoth vote" represented a "total rejection" of the three major parties in the British political system. | He said the "mammoth majority" and "mammoth vote" represented a "total rejection" of the three major parties in the British political system. |
Mr Galloway, who was expelled by Labour for his anti-Iraq war comments, urged his former party to turn away "decisively" from the course set by former party leader Tony Blair, which he said involved attacks on other countries. | |
He urged his former colleagues to "stop taking their supporters for granted" and "unite the coalition" it once had. | |
BBC Yorkshire political editor Len Tingle said there had effectively been two campaigns - one with the three main UK parties focused on the economy and jobs, and the other run by Mr Galloway which had his party's anti-war message at its forefront. | |
'Lonely' and 'loud' | |
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said there had been a feeling, prior to the by-election, that Mr Galloway might split the left-wing vote, but he had not been expected to defeat Labour. | |
Our correspondent said the margin of the victory was "extraordinary", adding that it was not simply a matter of the Labour Party losing to Mr Galloway but "being thumped" by him and his party. | |
He predicted that, once in the House of Commons, Mr Galloway would be "a lone voice but a very loud one". | |
It is the second time Mr Galloway has upset the political odds - he pulled off one of the results of the 2005 General Election when he overturned a large Labour majority in Bethnal Green and Bow to become the Respect Party's first MP. | |
His win in Bradford West is a remarkable comeback after disappointing showings at the 2010 General Election and the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections. | His win in Bradford West is a remarkable comeback after disappointing showings at the 2010 General Election and the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections. |
The outcome was being closely watched by all the parties as a snapshot of voter opinion, following last week's Budget and ahead of council and mayoral elections next month. | The outcome was being closely watched by all the parties as a snapshot of voter opinion, following last week's Budget and ahead of council and mayoral elections next month. |
The Conservatives came second in the constituency in 2010, on a 65% turnout, ahead of the Liberal Democrats in third. | The Conservatives came second in the constituency in 2010, on a 65% turnout, ahead of the Liberal Democrats in third. |
Labour have held the seat since 1974, except for a brief period in the early 1980s when the sitting MP defected to the SDP. | Labour have held the seat since 1974, except for a brief period in the early 1980s when the sitting MP defected to the SDP. |
Prior to Bradford West, there had been five by-elections in England and Scotland since the start of the current Parliament - Oldham and Saddleworth, Barnsley Central, Leicester South, Inverclyde and Feltham and Heston - with Labour retaining all five seats. | |
The full result (with vote share and change since 2010 in brackets): | The full result (with vote share and change since 2010 in brackets): |
George Galloway (Respect) 18,341 (55.89%, +52.83%) | George Galloway (Respect) 18,341 (55.89%, +52.83%) |
Imran Hussain (Lab) 8,201 (24.99%, -20.36%) | Imran Hussain (Lab) 8,201 (24.99%, -20.36%) |
Jackie Whiteley (C) 2,746 (8.37%, -22.78%) | Jackie Whiteley (C) 2,746 (8.37%, -22.78%) |
Jeanette Sunderland (LD) 1,505 (4.59%, -7.08%) | Jeanette Sunderland (LD) 1,505 (4.59%, -7.08%) |
Sonja McNally (UKIP) 1,085 (3.31%, +1.31%) | Sonja McNally (UKIP) 1,085 (3.31%, +1.31%) |
Dawud Islam (Green) 481 (1.47%, -0.85%) | Dawud Islam (Green) 481 (1.47%, -0.85%) |
Neil Craig (D Nats) 344 (1.05%) | Neil Craig (D Nats) 344 (1.05%) |
Howling Laud Hope (Loony) 111 (0.34%) | Howling Laud Hope (Loony) 111 (0.34%) |