#Labour took a minus 44% swing having suspended their own candidate over comments on #Israel & #Gaza.
#Galloway won by campaigning on Gaza ceasefire discontent and dissatisfaction with Labour's lack of socialist policies mostly, but also campaigned against trans rights wokeness etc in parts of the constituency. Showing a much more sophisticated micro targeting & granular political machine than most independents can ever muster/afford.
Nominally pro-gaza pro-Muslim Galloway also received support from radical islamaphobe, far right white nationalist Nick Griffin. Which makes absolutely no sense what so ever.
Unless you put stock in factoring they are both the sort of extremist divisive agitators that #Moscow & #Putin seeks to support in driving wedges in to democracies.
The sad loss for the people of Rochdale was decent local independent #DavidTully with a normal independents low level election machine and backing only came in second place. After being entirely ignored by mainstream media, as a decent not inflammatory candidate with integrity that doesn't bait clicks.
Galloway, called a divisive grifter by some & regular on #RussiaToday channel, will doubtless continue to get completely outsized media coverage as an 'exciting figure' that generates views. Many politicians and commentators are already using this upset to 'prove' the UK electorate support some version of their personal views.