George Galloway warned Sir Keir Starmer has “woken up to his worst nightmare” after his victory in the Rochdale by-election.
The left-wing firebrand, who focused his campaign on Palestine, said his Workers Party of Britain will stand candidates in dozens of Labour-held seats at the next general election and will “either defeat them ourselves or cause their defeat”.
Asked if his party could replicate his win in other constituencies, the ex-Labour MP told GB News: “Yes especially in this region, I don’t know what will happen elsewhere in the country, but I have now received deputations from Bolton, Oldham, Blackburn, Bury and Tameside, and that’s just the deputations I’ve received.
“We’ve got 59 parliamentary candidates ready to go, we will stand in therefore three score Labour seats and either defeat them ourselves or cause their defeat.
“And there will be independents, not Workers Party, but independents that we are ready to support who will stand up and down the country and I know of many already in the field who will now be energised by the result here tonight.
“I think Keir Starmer’s woken up this morning to his worst nightmare.”
Rochdale by-election LIVE: Galloway crushes Labour before hecklers spark chaos in speech
Mr Galloway, who has been a fierce critic of the Labour leader’s stance on the Gaza conflict, won the Rochdale by-election with 40% of the votes.
The contest in the Greater Manchester seat has been mired in chaos and controversy.
Labour ditched its candidate, Azhar Ali, following an antisemitism row but he was still listed for the party on the ballot paper as the deadline had passed.
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.
“Rochdale deserved the chance to vote for an MP that would bring communities together and deliver for working people. George Galloway is only interested in stoking fear and division. As an MP he will be a damaging force in our communities and public life.
“The Labour party will quickly begin the process to select a new Labour candidate for the general election, and will be campaigning hard to deliver the representation and fresh start that Rochdale deserves.”
