Labour stands by Rochdale by-election candidate despite ‘deeply offensive’ Israel comments

The Labour Party have slammed George Galloway as 'only interested in stoking fear and division' after he cruised to victory in the Rochdale by-election.

It was a contest marred with controversy. And the drama did not stop - even after the results were declared.

Voters across Rochdale have gone to the ballot box to elect their new MP following the death of Sir Tony Lloyd.

There are 11 candidates standing the Rochdale by-election on Thursday (February 29). Labour selected Lancashire County councillor Azhar Ali to stand in the race to become an MP but withdrew support for him after he made 'deeply offensive' comments about Israel.

Almost every person of Arab, Muslim and Jewish heritage working in TV and film has experienced a deterioration in their mental health following Hamas’ October 7 attack and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a leading charity has reported.

K.J. Yossman The U.K.’s Film and TV Charity has been liaising with Muslim, Arab and Jewish screen industry workers following the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and the subsequent war against Hamas.

The SNP is set to heap pressure on Keir Starmer by challenging Labour MPs to vote for a ban on arms sales to Israel.

Rochdale has found itself at the centre of a national political storm. What was expected to be a straightforward by-election for Labour has turned into one of the strangest and most chaotic in recent memory.

British grime artist Wiley has been stripped of a national honour, after he posted abusive social media posts aimed at his Jewish critics and other figures.

Wiley has been stripped of his MBE for “bringing [the] honours system into disrepute”.The British Grime artist had received the honour back in December 2017 for his services to music. However, according to a list published on the Cabinet Office website, it appears that he has forfeited the MBE (via The Mirror).The honour being revoked comes in light of the numerous anti-Semitic statements made by the musician, which stem back nearly four years, and calls for action from the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA).Back in 2020, the London MC faced backlash after making anti-Semitic comments on Twitter, going on a rant about the music industry, Israel and Jewish people.

People in Rochdale will pay more in council tax from April. A 4.99 per cent hike in the household precept has been agreed. Of that, 2pc will go towards adult social care.

Police are investigating after a person was caught on camera tearing down a banner calling for support for George Galloway in the Rochdale by-election. They were seen putting it in their car and driving away.

the Israel-Hamas war rages on. The 44-year-old “Girls Trip” actress and comedian, who found out she was Jewish later in life and had her Bat Mitzvah at 40, went Instagram Live on Tuesday from her “business class” seat on an airplane, letting her 7.4 million followers know that she’s taking a “16-hour” flight from Los Angeles to Israel “to learn and see with my own eyes.”“I’m gonna go meet my future man out there. I’m out.

Many people will remember him as the man who pretended to be a cat licking milk from Rula Lenska's cupped hands on Celebrity Big Brother. But in politics, George Galloway is known for causing election upsets and controversy, often at the Labour Party's expense.

Sir Keir Starmer said his party would deal with Donald Trump if the United States chooses him as the next president.

Scottish Labour delegates have backed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after party MSPs called for “unequivocal” support. The party’s conference held in Glasgow unanimously backed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s calls for an immediate end to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Anas Sarwar has made a direct pitch to SNP voters to urge them to back his party at the next general election to help kick the Tories out of power.

Sir Keir Starmer says he has done something no other leader of the Labour Party has ever done before by 'giving up a Labour seat' in Rochdale. But the Labour leader fell short of saying that he acted quickly enough over comments made by its by-election candidate.

A Manchester Labour MP drew applause from the BBC Question Time audience as she blasted a Conservativeover his party's history of 'misbehaving' MPs. When confronted with criticism over Labour's recent handling of anti-Semitic comments from prospective MPs, Lucy Powell said: "You know what Graham, I honestly won't take lectures from you."

K.J. Yossman Scooter Braun, Emmy Rossum and Helen Mirren are among 400 celebrities and industry executives who’ve signed an open letter supporting Israel’s inclusion in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Although there has been no suggestion the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the annual singing competition, has any intention of barring Israel from the event, the open letter has been published in response to a handful of fringe voices calling for a ban.