Bradford West by-election, 2012

[Mr Rob]

I have read his election leaflet and listened to his speech at the 1000 people rally. It was all good stuff, but I cannot find anything to explain this remarkable result.

That's because neither had anything to do with it. His message to the mosques did. It addressed the core issues that resonated most deeply with his target audience.

Now we have clear evidence of this, and it should be used, but without coming across as frothing imbeciles.

[Tom Collier]

It is a strange statement from George Galloway, that almost makes him sound like a convert to Islam. However he appears to be responding by attempts by the Labour candidate to play the sectarian card. "Don't listen to Galloway talking about Iraq and Afghanistan, I am a Muslim and I think...." is how I imagine it went and it probably irked a lot of Muslims. George Galloway would not give up on that kind of argument once it had started. It shows how all people dislike being expected to vote a certain way as a group. It is no different to how Labour expect the poor to vote for them and become angry when they don't. I have no idea what happened in that campain, but the defeat for Labour was not narrow. I doubt if it could be explained away by the vote of Muslims alone. I am quite surprised. I think that by accepting austerity but in a toned down way, Labour do not have much appeal for anyone at the moment. But, yes, what can you say? What a turn up.

[Citizen67]

Can I assume form that Letter that George Galloway is a secret Muslim?

[Citizen67]

i don't know anything about the demographics of Bradford West. But Could it be that the Muslim part of the Community had been highly motivated and the rest of the people indifferent? BUT will this motivate the White section from now on and polarise Politics along colour-lines, race-lines in the future? with the White vote coalesce, gathering around an alternativ, /opposit rival to GG and Muslim bloc?

[ron]

I have read his election leaflet and listened to his speech at the 1000 people rally. It was all good stuff, but I cannot find anything to explain this remarkable result.

Maybe that fact that he can draw 1000 people to a rally is the answer. I have spoken at many election hustings over the years, and they were joint meetings for all the parties combined, but we were lucky to get 50 people total from all parties added together.

The fact that George Galloway can draw 1000 to an election meeting, shows that he has charisma, and there is something special about him.

This is the problem with democracy - it is bullshit (or charisma as you call it) that works. It's frustrating for those of us that don't fall for it.

[SDP]

To sum up George Galloways policies

1/ Tony Blair should be prosecuted as a war criminal, becasue he is responsible for the deaths of a million in Iraq.
2/ Respect claim to be the real Labour Party.
3/ His message is tailored to the Muslim vote.
4/ He is against aggressive wars by Blair and Bush against Muslim countries.

[Citizen67]

IN Muslim countries, not against Muslim countries.

[rjt]

To sum up George Galloways policies

1/ Tony Blair should be prosecuted as a war criminal, becasue he is responsible for the deaths of a million in Iraq.
2/ Respect claim to be the real Labour Party.
3/ His message is tailored to the Muslim vote.
4/ He is against aggressive wars by Blair and Bush against Muslim countries.

1) Galloway is right.

2) He is not right

3) Correct

4) Correct

And in a constitnency like that one it is not surprising he did well.

[SDP]

Respect Party.............. George Galloway..........18,341 votes...55.89%.+52.8%.majority of 10,140
Labour's..................... Imran Hussain............... 8,201...........24.99%.-20.3%
Conservatives..............Jackie Whiteley..............2,746............8.37%.-22.7%
Jeanette Sunderland.....Liberal Democrats........... 1,505............4.59%..-7.1%
UKIP's........................Sonja McNally..................1,085...........3.31%..+1 .3%
Dawud Islam...............Green party........................481...........1.47%..-0.8%
Democratic Nationalist..Neil Craig..........................344 votes....1.05%..-0.1%
Howling Laud Hope......Loony party........................111............0.34%. +0.34%

Bradford West has always been good ground for the BNP. But the BNP vote has disappeared. It certainly did not go to UKIP or the Democratic Nationalists.

[Traditionalist]

Wake up call for the civic utopians.