Rishi Sunak tonight demanded Britain unite against extremism as he made an extraordinary plea for calm on the steps of No10 and told police to take a harder line with protests.
The Prime Minister lashed out at the ‘alarming’ win by George Galloway in the Gaza-fuelled Rochdale by-election, which followed months of mass protests against Israeli violence following the Hamas terror attack.
In an emotional speech which referenced his own British and Hindu background Mr Sunak laid into the former Labour MP and pro-Palestinian rabble-rouser – who ‘glorifies Hezbollah’ and has been backed by Nick Griffin, the far-right former leader of the BNP.
And he cited rising anti-Semitism that has left Jewish children ‘fearful to wear their school uniform’ and Islamophobia that has seen ‘Muslim women abused in the street for the actions of a terrorist group they have no connection with’.
The PM said he would back police in taking a tougher stance against the ‘poison’ on the streets, adding: ‘We must draw a line.’
‘This situation has gone on long enough and demands a response not just from the government, but from all of us,’ he said.
‘I fear that our great achievement in building the world’s most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy is being deliberately undermined. There are forces here at home trying to tear us apart.’
In response to the PM’s criticism, Mr Galloway used a TV interview to mock ”little Rishi Sunak’ and refused to condemn the Hezbollah terrorist group.
The Prime Minister lashed out at the ‘alarming’ win by George Galloway in the Gaza-fuelled Rochdale by-election, which followed months of mass protests against Israeli violence following the Hamas terror attack.
Mr Galloway, one of Britain’s most divisive politicians, swept to victory in the greater Manchester seat, gaining almost 40 per cent of the vote in a contest mired in chaos and controversy and dominated by the Gaza conflict.
Mr Galloway coasted home after Labour disowned its candidate in a normally-safe seat
Last week there was fury when a pro-Palestinian protest saw the phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ projected onto the Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben. The phrase is regarded as an anti-Semitic trope that tacitly demands the destruction of Israel.
His comments come a week after the suspension of ex-Tory chairman Lee Anderson for comments about the Muslim London mayor Sadiq Khan, and days after he himself said there was ‘mob rule’ in the UK.
He added: ‘The time has now come for us all to stand together to combat the forces of division and beat this poison.
‘We must face down the extremists who would tear us apart. There must be leadership, not pandering or appeasement…
‘This week I have met with senior police officers and made clear it is the public’s expectation that they will not merely manage these protests, but police them.
‘And I say this to the police, we will back you when you take action.’
Mr Galloway, one of Britain’s most divisive politicians, swept to victory in the greater Manchester seat, gaining almost 40 per cent of the vote in a contest mired in chaos and controversy and dominated by the Gaza conflict.
The former Labour and Respect MP, who now leads the Workers Party of Britain, took aim at Labour Sir Keir Starmer leader in his victory speech focused on Palestine.
The PM said he would back police in taking a tougher stance against the ‘poison’ on the streets, adding: ‘We must draw a line.’
Mr Galloway said: ‘Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza. You have paid, and 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 Palestine in the Gaza Strip.’
Mr Ali was fourth with just 2,402 votes (7.72 per cent).
His name appeared on the ballot papers as a Labour candidate because the decision to drop him came after the cut-off point.
There is not thought to be a modern precedent for two effectively independent candidates coming first and second in a Parliamentary contest.
At 39.7 per cent, turnout was slightly higher than in the recent Wellingborough and Kingswood by-elections.
And the scale of the victory raised questions about whether Labour would have been able to defeat Mr Galloway even if their campaign had not derailed.
Sir Tony had won Rochdale for Labour at the 2019 general election with a majority of almost 10,000 votes.
Labour has apologised to the voters of Rochdale for not fielding a candidate, following what Rishi Sunak described as ‘one of the most divisive campaigns’ in recent times.
The party warned Mr Galloway will stoke ‘fear and division’ and said he ‘only won because Labour did not stand’ after it dropped its candidate Azhar Ali for suggesting Israel was complicit in Hamas’ October 7 attack.
It came against a background of protests against Israeli military action in Gaza, which has left more than 30,000 people dead, the majority of them civilians.
Last week there was fury when a pro-Palestinian protest saw the phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ projected onto the Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben. The phrase is regarded as an anti-Semitic trope that tacitly demands the destruction of Israel.
At the same time there have been targeted protests outside the offices and homes of MPs.
Last week Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker found himself in hot water after altering Commons rules regarding a vote on a Gaza ceasefire – saying he acted out of fears for the safety of MPs.
But Mr Sunak has also faced problems on his own benches, with former Tory chairman Lee Anderson suspended last weekend for saying that Muslim London mayor Sadiq Khan had handed over control of the capital to ‘Islamists’.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: ‘The British people will take no lessons from a Prime Minister and Conservative party who have sowed the seeds of division for years.
‘This is the same Prime Minister who made Suella Braverman his Home Secretary and Lee Anderson his party’s Deputy Chairman.’
