Appearing on Sky News immediately after the declaration of the vote, Toby Perkins MP was asked what had gone wrong for the Labour Party. He replied that the people of Bradford obviously wanted George Galloway as their MP, having seen him on Big Brother. He said that he hoped that Galloway would live up to the promises he had given the people of Bradford, because Galloway living up to his promises had not been the experience of Galloways’ former constituents.
Perkins was asked if he really believed the people of Bradford had backed Galloway because they had seen him on Big Brother. Perkins replied that Galloway’s celebrity had been a significant factor. At the General Election 18 months ago, huge numbers had voted for the Labour Party and very few had voted for the Respect Party. Since then, the Labour Party’s popularity had grown in national polls, but in just three weeks [of the election campaign in Bradford West] George Galloway had captured the mood of voters. Perkins said that the impression he had got on the doorsteps was that people had wanted George Galloway [as a person] as their MP [rather than supporting the Respect Party].
Perkins was asked whether he thought that Blair supporters were now plotting to remove Ed Miliband as Labour Leader. Perkins said that George Galloway had GG talked nonsense for 25 years and will continue to do so. He said that the reality was that Ed Miliband had led the Labour Party to a strong position in the polls and to victory in previous by-elections and he would lead the Party to a good result in the elections this May. He said that until three weeks ago [when Galloway began campaigning in Bradford West], the Labour Party had been ahead in Bradford. He said that the Labour Party respected the choice of the people of Bradford but it would fight hard to win the seat back in 2015.
Reaction from Kris Hopkins, Tory MP for Keighley (former Leader of Bradford Council)
It was put to Kris Hopkins that this was a poor result for the Tories, who had been in second place at the General Election. Hopkins replied that the Tories had been realistic. The last time the Tories had won Bradford West was 42 years ago and at the General Election, when there had been a swing to the Tories nationally, there had been a swing to Labour in Bradford West. It had been a difficult last ten days for the Government. However, for Galloway to get a 10,000+ majority out of Labour Bradford West, in Bradford with its Labour Council, was overall a disaster for Labour.
Hopkins as asked whether the vote reflected a “budget backlash”, with voters protesting at the Granny Tax, the Pasty Tax, the cosy dinners for donors at no. 10 and over the mess the Government was making over the fuel crisis. Hopkins replied that when the Coalition Government had been formed, it had had to address an immense deficit left by the Labour Party. It had had to make difficult decisions and difficult choices, and the Prime Minister and his team were doing just that. Hopkins said that the Bradford vote was not a reflection of national politics but was a protest vote, as by election votes often are. However, in by-elections it was usually the opposition party which won, and this is the first time in over a decade that the official opposition party has been wiped out, has been obliterated.
Hopkins was asked whether David Cameron would be smiling tonight over the Labour Party’s “bloody nose”. Hopkins said that it was important that political parties engage with the young, on the ground. He said that the Tories would do this and would build towards the next General Election in Bradford.
Hopkins was asked whether the by-election vote had shown that Bradford voters think that the Tories are too posh and out of touch. Hopkins replied that neither he, nor Eric Pickles (another former Leader of Bradford Council) were too posh. He said that there needed to be a broad range of people in the Party which led the country, and the Tories had that in their Government.
•See our report of George Galloway’s interview with Sky News immediately after the declaration of the election result on http://www.eastlondonnews.com/first-reactions-george-galloway.
•See our report of George Galloway’s victory speech at the count on http://www.eastlondonnews.com/galloway-trounces-labour-again.