UK By-elections thread, 2021-

[Logical]

Is it possible that Labour was second on both the Batley and Spen Valley side of the constituency yet still ahead overall?

[Horus]

George Galloway is a personification of all the bad things Jeremy Corbyn gets falsely accused of.

[cp]

Agreed that Galloway isn't likely to break 15%. A more interesting question is whether his vote total will end up being greater than whatever Labour loses by, should they lose.

Well, I was right to be cagey about a Labour loss, but definitely didn't see Galloway doing as well as he did. All in all I'm pleased with that result, though it's a pity this means the Starmer show is going to keep limping along for a while yet.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Is it possible that Labour was second on both the Batley and Spen Valley side of the constituency yet still ahead overall?

Certainly. Though it's slightly more complex than just Batley vs. Spen even if that works as a quick summary: Birstall, though a separate town and generally good territory for the Conservatives, was in Batley MB before the local government deforms of the 1970s while Heckmondwike (a town with remarkably cursed politics: multiple BNP councillors over the years and serious Biradari influence) is in the Spen Valley. It was suggested overnight that Heckmondwike may have been Galloway's strongest part of the constituency, which would certainly be on brand.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Is it possible that Labour was second on both the Batley and Spen Valley side of the constituency yet still ahead overall?

Certainly. Though it's slightly more complex than just Batley vs. Spen even if that works as a quick summary: Birstall, though a separate town and generally good territory for the Conservatives, was in Batley MB before the local government deforms of the 1970s while Heckmondwike (a town with remarkably cursed politics: multiple BNP councillors over the years and serious Biradari influence) is in the Spen Valley. It was suggested overnight that Heckmondwike may have been Galloway's strongest part of the constituency, which would certainly be on brand.

Did Galloway's campaign appeal to both BNPish and Biradariish currents, or does it just seem "aesthetically" like the sort of campaign that might have? It's hard as a foreign armchair observer to tell to what extent he was running as a Muslim sectional candidate and to what extent he was running as a general-interest turbo#populist maniac.

[Derpist]

George Galloway appears to be the first left-wing leader in Great Britain since Tony Blair to figure out to simultaneously appeal to both "working-class whites" (there's probably a million generic terms for this group) and non-white/non-Christian immigrants/minorities, but that's not a conversation we're ready to have.

That being said, Keir Starmer proved people right that it's not a binary choice between appealing to "working-class whites" and marginalized minority groups. You can alienate both!

[Secretary of State Liberal Hack]

George Galloway appears to be the first left-wing leader in Great Britain since Tony Blair to figure out to simultaneously appeal to both "working-class whites" (there's probably a million generic terms for this group) and non-white/non-Christian immigrants/minorities, but that's not a conversation we're ready to have.

Galloway has zero appeal to any "working class whites" and is detested by the vast majority of the british electorate.

[Continential]

George Galloway appears to be the first left-wing leader in Great Britain since Tony Blair to figure out to simultaneously appeal to both "working-class whites" (there's probably a million generic terms for this group) and non-white/non-Christian immigrants/minorities, but that's not a conversation we're ready to have.

lol

[Derpist]

George Galloway appears to be the first left-wing leader in Great Britain since Tony Blair to figure out to simultaneously appeal to both "working-class whites" (there's probably a million generic terms for this group) and non-white/non-Christian immigrants/minorities, but that's not a conversation we're ready to have.

Galloway has zero appeal to any "working class whites" and is detested by the vast majority of the british electorate.

According to the power of YouGov and Google, George Galloway has a 15-39 approval rating, compared to Keir Starmer at either 17-65 or 17-61. So he's not exactly popular, but he's still less detested than Keir Starmer lmfao.

Then again, is there anyone more hated in Britain than Keir Starmer? I don't even think Megan Markle polls as badly lol...

Course, the real Labour cope is to assume that both Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer are the worst human beings in human history - and not that there's something inherently wrong about the Labour Party that makes anyone who tries to lead it widely loathed.

[YL]

Is it possible that Labour was second on both the Batley and Spen Valley side of the constituency yet still ahead overall?

Certainly. Though it's slightly more complex than just Batley vs. Spen even if that works as a quick summary: Birstall, though a separate town and generally good territory for the Conservatives, was in Batley MB before the local government deforms of the 1970s while Heckmondwike (a town with remarkably cursed politics: multiple BNP councillors over the years and serious Biradari influence) is in the Spen Valley. It was suggested overnight that Heckmondwike may have been Galloway's strongest part of the constituency, which would certainly be on brand.

Did Galloway's campaign appeal to both BNPish and Biradariish currents, or does it just seem "aesthetically" like the sort of campaign that might have? It's hard as a foreign armchair observer to tell to what extent he was running as a Muslim sectional candidate and to what extent he was running as a general-interest turbo#populist maniac.

He shared a platform at some "free speech" event with Paul Halloran (the Heavy Woollen District Independent candidate from 2019) and Laurence Fox; he also used the word "woke" a lot.

The constituency was 18.8% Muslim according to the 2011 census, third highest in Yorkshire after his previous stamping ground Bradford West (51.3%) and Bradford East (36.9%).  I guess it's a bit more than that now.

[YL]

It was suggested overnight that Heckmondwike may have been Galloway's strongest part of the constituency, which would certainly be on brand.

Who by?  The Galloway campaign or someone else?

[Conservatopia]

Oof.  Cheers Hancock.

Oh well - I think I'm the only one who predicted Gorgeous George above 20%.  The rest of my prediction was off of course.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

George Galloway appears to be the first left-wing leader in Great Britain since Tony Blair to figure out to simultaneously appeal to both "working-class whites" (there's probably a million generic terms for this group) and non-white/non-Christian immigrants/minorities, but that's not a conversation we're ready to have.

That being said, Keir Starmer proved people right that it's not a binary choice between appealing to "working-class whites" and marginalized minority groups. You can alienate both!

Even the most effete out of touch hypothetical Labour leader would be a million times more popular with working class whites and minorities than Galloway would be in the same position. Galloway has run in approximately eight hundred seats over the past decade, and almost always relies on grubby opportunist antics; and when he doesn't manage to find his little niche he typically sinks like a stone.

[afleitch]

Galloway has every right to be furious.

This is not a good result for him. His previous iteration (well, one of many of them) would have easily won this seat. He was attempting the same message and innuendo as in Bradford West (some of which was identical) but it was less factional and sectarian and more conspiratorial. Remember he's spent most of the past year running the Alliance For Unity anti-SNP shtick which is nothing more than an online fringe. He was still seeking 'strokes' from that twitter audience. Outside of the Respect brand he's increasingly out of touch with the communities he used to appeal to.

[Devout Centrist]

George Galloway appears to be the first left-wing leader in Great Britain since Tony Blair to figure out to simultaneously appeal to both "working-class whites" (there's probably a million generic terms for this group) and non-white/non-Christian immigrants/minorities, but that's not a conversation we're ready to have.

This is, by far, the worst take I’ve seen on British politics in years. Well done.

[Zinneke]

Galloway has every right to be furious.

This is not a good result for him. His previous iteration (well, one of many of them) would have easily won this seat. He was attempting the same message and innuendo as in Bradford West (some of which was identical) but it was less factional and sectarian and more conspiratorial. Remember he's spent most of the past year running the Alliance For Unity anti-SNP shtick which is nothing more than an online fringe. He was still seeking 'strokes' from that twitter audience. Outside of the Respect brand he's increasingly out of touch with the communities he used to appeal to.

I don't think he's furious. I think he's challenging the result so that he can stay in the limelight and continue to scam low info acolytes for his cause. He is there solely to monopolise attention and he succeeded for a while. I mean, the last election he stood in he was a footnote, and the last by-election even more so. This felt like Bradford West 2.0 in terms of exposure to his brand by the media.

[afleitch]

Galloway has every right to be furious.

This is not a good result for him. His previous iteration (well, one of many of them) would have easily won this seat. He was attempting the same message and innuendo as in Bradford West (some of which was identical) but it was less factional and sectarian and more conspiratorial. Remember he's spent most of the past year running the Alliance For Unity anti-SNP shtick which is nothing more than an online fringe. He was still seeking 'strokes' from that twitter audience. Outside of the Respect brand he's increasingly out of touch with the communities he used to appeal to.

I don't think he's furious. I think he's challenging the result so that he can stay in the limelight and continue to scam low info acolytes for his cause. He is there solely to monopolise attention and he succeeded for a while. I mean, the last election he stood in he was a footnote, and the last by-election even more so. This felt like Bradford West 2.0 in terms of exposure to his brand by the media.

He doesn't have a consistent brand anymore. That's his issue. He has a style and we certainly saw that, but there are too many plates spinning now in which he's trying to court both the Muslim vote in north of England towns at election time but a viscerally anti-Muslim, reactionary online right that generates his clicks and likes, anti-SNP unionist idpol folks and the Greenwaldian 'left' when it's not election time.

It can't win him elections. Which is what he really wants.

[Cassius]

Galloway wouldn’t have won here in any year (except for, well, when he was a Labour member) because the Muslim populations (which are far from monolithically for him but nonetheless still seem to be his core base of support) simply aren’t big enough in B&S, unlike in Bradford West (where they represent a majority of the voters in the seat) or in Bethnal Green and Bow (where they didn’t and don’t, but were nonetheless substantially larger than in B&S, and even there he only won by a whisker). In terms of votes received, it’s his best showing for a while, but thanks to Labour squeaking back (they’re bloody lucky the Greens withdrew their candidate), Starmer is now safe(er) and so Gorgeous George can’t claim to be the man that killed/crippled Starmer’s leadership, which he’ll obviously be p***** off about.

[Zinneke]

Galloway has every right to be furious.

This is not a good result for him. His previous iteration (well, one of many of them) would have easily won this seat. He was attempting the same message and innuendo as in Bradford West (some of which was identical) but it was less factional and sectarian and more conspiratorial. Remember he's spent most of the past year running the Alliance For Unity anti-SNP shtick which is nothing more than an online fringe. He was still seeking 'strokes' from that twitter audience. Outside of the Respect brand he's increasingly out of touch with the communities he used to appeal to.

I don't think he's furious. I think he's challenging the result so that he can stay in the limelight and continue to scam low info acolytes for his cause. He is there solely to monopolise attention and he succeeded for a while. I mean, the last election he stood in he was a footnote, and the last by-election even more so. This felt like Bradford West 2.0 in terms of exposure to his brand by the media.

He doesn't have a consistent brand anymore. That's his issue. He has a style and we certainly saw that, but there are too many plates spinning now in which he's trying to court both the Muslim vote in north of England towns at election time but a viscerally anti-Muslim, reactionary online right that generates his clicks and likes, anti-SNP unionist idpol folks and the Greenwaldian 'left' when it's not election time.

It can't win him elections. Which is what he really wants.

I doubt he was expecting it though. He achieved his primary goal, which was boosting his brand. Winning would have been an added bonus. Surely even an ego like his realised this was an uphill battle.

[Secretary of State Liberal Hack]

Galloway has every right to be furious.

This is not a good result for him. His previous iteration (well, one of many of them) would have easily won this seat. He was attempting the same message and innuendo as in Bradford West (some of which was identical) but it was less factional and sectarian and more conspiratorial. Remember he's spent most of the past year running the Alliance For Unity anti-SNP shtick which is nothing more than an online fringe. He was still seeking 'strokes' from that twitter audience. Outside of the Respect brand he's increasingly out of touch with the communities he used to appeal to.

I don't think he's furious. I think he's challenging the result so that he can stay in the limelight and continue to scam low info acolytes for his cause. He is there solely to monopolise attention and he succeeded for a while. I mean, the last election he stood in he was a footnote, and the last by-election even more so. This felt like Bradford West 2.0 in terms of exposure to his brand by the media.

He doesn't have a consistent brand anymore. That's his issue. He has a style and we certainly saw that, but there are too many plates spinning now in which he's trying to court both the Muslim vote in north of England towns at election time but a viscerally anti-Muslim, reactionary online right that generates his clicks and likes, anti-SNP unionist idpol folks and the Greenwaldian 'left' when it's not election time.

It can't win him elections. Which is what he really wants.

I doubt he was expecting it though. He achieved his primary goal, which was boosting his brand. Winning would have been an added bonus. Surely even an ego like his realised this was an uphill battle.

I mean his life is pretty sad, travelling from constituency to constituency spreading hatred and rumour mongering to various crowds. Consorting with anti-social cranks ranging from communists to Michael Gove. Haviing people steadily pay less attention to him and loosing the limelight he used to have.

He could comofortably retire on an MP's pension but countinued to publicaly humiliate himself because of his ego.

[Zinneke]

Galloway has every right to be furious.

This is not a good result for him. His previous iteration (well, one of many of them) would have easily won this seat. He was attempting the same message and innuendo as in Bradford West (some of which was identical) but it was less factional and sectarian and more conspiratorial. Remember he's spent most of the past year running the Alliance For Unity anti-SNP shtick which is nothing more than an online fringe. He was still seeking 'strokes' from that twitter audience. Outside of the Respect brand he's increasingly out of touch with the communities he used to appeal to.

I don't think he's furious. I think he's challenging the result so that he can stay in the limelight and continue to scam low info acolytes for his cause. He is there solely to monopolise attention and he succeeded for a while. I mean, the last election he stood in he was a footnote, and the last by-election even more so. This felt like Bradford West 2.0 in terms of exposure to his brand by the media.

He doesn't have a consistent brand anymore. That's his issue. He has a style and we certainly saw that, but there are too many plates spinning now in which he's trying to court both the Muslim vote in north of England towns at election time but a viscerally anti-Muslim, reactionary online right that generates his clicks and likes, anti-SNP unionist idpol folks and the Greenwaldian 'left' when it's not election time.

It can't win him elections. Which is what he really wants.

I doubt he was expecting it though. He achieved his primary goal, which was boosting his brand. Winning would have been an added bonus. Surely even an ego like his realised this was an uphill battle.

I mean his life is pretty sad, travelling from constituency to constituency spreading hatred and rumour mongering to various crowds. Consorting with anti-social cranks ranging from communists to Michael Gove. Haviing people steadily pay less attention to him and loosing the limelight he used to have.

He could comofortably retire on an MP's pension but countinued to publicaly humiliate himself because of his ego.

He didn't for two reasons. One is that he is one of those left-wingers that really likes money, and sees publicity as his way of getting it. And two, he seems to genuinely enjoy campaigning.

Come to think of it, these are probably the only two things he shares with Blair, not the "appeals to muslims and wwc" bollox.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Galloway's primary goal was to cost Labour the seat which would act as the starting gun for a leadership challenge against Starmer. By any measure he's failed miserably.

If anything Galloway's put the hard left opponents of the leadership on the back foot for seeming to give his gutter campaign a wink and a nudge.

[CumbrianLefty]

It is very likely that Galloway took a sizeable slice of the 2019 HWI/BxP vote this time around.

He had significant non-Muslim support in both his 2005 and 2012 wins as well.

[Brittain33]

My favorite memory of George Galloway was when he was on Celebrity Big Brother and all the houseguests had to rank themselves in order of their fame, and he insisted he was at the front of the line because there were 1 billion Muslims who supported him. 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

It was suggested overnight that Heckmondwike may have been Galloway's strongest part of the constituency, which would certainly be on brand.

Who by?  The Galloway campaign or someone else?

Yes, the Galloway campaign which means, given some of the other things they were saying, a pinch of salt perhaps. This is what is so irritating about the lack of proper local data for British elections: you're left with hearsay and gossip, most of which is questionable.