George Galloway is the MP for Rochdale

For Glorianny, and anyone else promoting an anti-Israeli line, sadly, you need to get real. Overall, the Arab and Muslim states in that wretched region commit far more crimes against humanity, and human rights abuses, than Israel has done, or will do in this conflict.

Demonstrators have got on the streets here, and elsewhere, to pointlessly wave banners and placards, when Hamas, the Iranian leaders, and the Israeli Govt couldn't give a monkey's chuff for their efforts.

Israel is NOT going to be 'swept into the sea', they have support from USA and even Russia these days, and the assorted middle-east 'players' are well aware of that, whatever the speeches from Iranian despots and self-publicising pieces of filth like Galloway.

Those demos are GROSS hypocrisy. Were they on demos through the ten+ years of Assad and his Russian backers bombing Syrian citizens to the extent of between 300K and 500K murders?? No, thought not!

Have they been on mass demos through the years of the Iranian-backed rebellion in Yemen? It's some 9 years now, with Iran and the Saudis fighting a 'proxy' war, with reliable 'human-rights' sources putting the death toll at well over 350,000, about half the victims from direct military action, the rest from ancillary causes like disease and famine? No, thought not!

I'm not religious, I can pick big holes in all of the major faiths, but Judaism has caused far fewer deaths than Christianity and Islam over many centuries. Most of Europe, and Russia, must share the blame for the situations from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s that led to Israel being created (if you don't agree, or perhaps just don't know, find a reliable history book).

Given the death toll in the many Catholic-Protestant conflicts, and similar between Sunni & Shia Muslims, it is gross hypocrisy for anyone from those faiths to be pointing fingers at Judaism?!

Good, and true comments DrWatson well said! Give my regards to Sherlock btw.😃

Thank you, thank you, thank you *Dr.Watson

Nicenanny3

Now the polls have closed, people across the UK need to know the truth about this election campaign - and the implications for our democracy.

To suggest that a parliamentary election in this country has not been truly free and fair is a very serious allegation indeed.

Unfortunately however, the behaviour of certain candidates and their supporters in this contest fell very far short of this our traditional democratic standards. What we have witnessed and experienced in Rochdale is deeply disturbing.

In recent weeks, Reform UK’s candidate and campaign team has:

- been subjected to death threats
- suffered vile racist abuse
- been refused entry to hustings in a public building
- had to be relocated for their own safety
- suffered daily intimidation and slurs

In one incident, Reform UK business supporters were threatened with a firebomb attack if they distributed our leaflets. Menacing behaviour was a feature of the entire campaign, including outside polling stations on the day of the election itself. In this ugliest of contests, we are also concerned by the sudden increase in the size of the postal vote, which has jumped from 14,000 to some 23,000 in this constituency since the last general election.

The results of the Rochdale by-election should act as a stark wake up call to those in power – and the entire electorate. This is Britain. We are supposed to be a beacon of democracy. This shameful contest has been more characteristic of a failed state.
Unless something dramatic changes, our fear is that it will be repeated in dozens of constituencies across the UK at the general election. By Christmas, we face the prospect of numerous extremist anti-Semitic lawmakers in the House of Commons.

So well said, Nicenanny3. I worry where all this will leave us.
Not I fear the democratic parliament we were, or should have been, proud of.
Like everyone I am appalled at what is happening in Gaza and Ukraine but division within our country won’t help at all.
Or have I got it wrong ??

DrWatson
Well, that post puts things into perspective. Well said.

DrWatson

For Glorianny, and anyone else promoting an anti-Israeli line, sadly, you need to get real. Overall, the Arab and Muslim states in that wretched region commit far more crimes against humanity, and human rights abuses, than Israel has done, or will do in this conflict.

Demonstrators have got on the streets here, and elsewhere, to pointlessly wave banners and placards, when Hamas, the Iranian leaders, and the Israeli Govt couldn't give a monkey's chuff for their efforts.

Israel is NOT going to be 'swept into the sea', they have support from USA and even Russia these days, and the assorted middle-east 'players' are well aware of that, whatever the speeches from Iranian despots and self-publicising pieces of filth like Galloway.

Those demos are GROSS hypocrisy. Were they on demos through the ten+ years of Assad and his Russian backers bombing Syrian citizens to the extent of between 300K and 500K murders?? No, thought not!

Have they been on mass demos through the years of the Iranian-backed rebellion in Yemen? It's some 9 years now, with Iran and the Saudis fighting a 'proxy' war, with reliable 'human-rights' sources putting the death toll at well over 350,000, about half the victims from direct military action, the rest from ancillary causes like disease and famine? No, thought not!

I'm not religious, I can pick big holes in all of the major faiths, but Judaism has caused far fewer deaths than Christianity and Islam over many centuries. Most of Europe, and Russia, must share the blame for the situations from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s that led to Israel being created (if you don't agree, or perhaps just don't know, find a reliable history book).

Given the death toll in the many Catholic-Protestant conflicts, and similar between Sunni & Shia Muslims, it is gross hypocrisy for anyone from those faiths to be pointing fingers at Judaism?!

Not all of us here wanting a ceasefire in Gaza (& indeed a desire to see Russia pull out of Ukraine) are anti Jewish/Israel. We truly abhor War across the world and yes, maybe the demonstrations are hypocritical and maybe it would sit more comfortably if they were asking for all Wars to cease.

I’m not anti any specific race, I am anti terrorism.

My b impression is most of us just want the devastation to stop - humanitarian ceasefire now and some kind of diplomatic political ceasefire agreed

For nicenanny (or is it not-so-nice?). So, a Reform supporter? Maybe update us re their candidate Danczuk, (ex Rochdale MP) suspended by Labour due to his, um, 'unfortunate' campaign of sexually explicit messages to a 17-y-old, though he still appeared as a candidate in the 2017 election, finished well down the list, and afterwards said he "would not stand for election again"??

Lovely guy. Still, he's only a politician, you can't expect too much?

I just looked at the Reform website, strangely, though being widely associated with immigration issues, their 4 "Key Areas of Reform" don't include that word. I DID find the phrase "Net Zero Immigration" further in the website, but no real explanation about what to do.

"Postal votes"? That thinly-veiled suggestion of corruption in that area gets wheeled out occasionally, though it's very difficult to get applications through if you're pretending to be someone else (and a few people per year do get prosecuted). Sure, a Muslim head of family might well vote for several females in the family, but that could happen anyway, not just with postal votes, given that faith's unfortunate treatment of females as third-class citizens? NB:- any Muslims or defenders who want to debate that assertion should visit a Mosque, and a Church, take some pictures of women worshipping with men in the latter, then try and find such an occurrence in the former (could take a while . . .). It's now 30 yrs since the CofE permitted female clergy, any guesses when Islam will vote for female Imams? If you're not convinced, look up arranged marriages, 'honour' killings, and the wholly repulsive FGM -- all of which only occur in predominantly Muslim countries, or the Islamic enclaves in others.

DrWatson

For Glorianny, and anyone else promoting an anti-Israeli line, sadly, you need to get real. Overall, the Arab and Muslim states in that wretched region commit far more crimes against humanity, and human rights abuses, than Israel has done, or will do in this conflict.

Demonstrators have got on the streets here, and elsewhere, to pointlessly wave banners and placards, when Hamas, the Iranian leaders, and the Israeli Govt couldn't give a monkey's chuff for their efforts.

Israel is NOT going to be 'swept into the sea', they have support from USA and even Russia these days, and the assorted middle-east 'players' are well aware of that, whatever the speeches from Iranian despots and self-publicising pieces of filth like Galloway.

Those demos are GROSS hypocrisy. Were they on demos through the ten+ years of Assad and his Russian backers bombing Syrian citizens to the extent of between 300K and 500K murders?? No, thought not!

Have they been on mass demos through the years of the Iranian-backed rebellion in Yemen? It's some 9 years now, with Iran and the Saudis fighting a 'proxy' war, with reliable 'human-rights' sources putting the death toll at well over 350,000, about half the victims from direct military action, the rest from ancillary causes like disease and famine? No, thought not!

I'm not religious, I can pick big holes in all of the major faiths, but Judaism has caused far fewer deaths than Christianity and Islam over many centuries. Most of Europe, and Russia, must share the blame for the situations from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s that led to Israel being created (if you don't agree, or perhaps just don't know, find a reliable history book).

Given the death toll in the many Catholic-Protestant conflicts, and similar between Sunni & Shia Muslims, it is gross hypocrisy for anyone from those faiths to be pointing fingers at Judaism?!

No one is pointing any fingers at Judaism.
No one wants to see the State of Israel eradicated.
We do want to see it comply with UN resolutions and withdraw from what should be Palestinian territory.
We do want to see a Palestinian state established free from Israeli occupation and for Palestinians to be given proper human rights where ever they live.

Many of us have been demonstrating about Yemen and the Saudi bombing for years.
To draw attention to one human catastrophe does not mean you ignore others.
US support for Israel is waning.

No one has blamed Judaism for any deaths.Some of us know many Jews oppose the current Israeli regime. And many of them were on the marches you condemn.
We put the blame for the slaughter of Palestinians firmly on the Israelis.

We put the blame for the slaughter of Palestinians firmly on the Israelis

All Israelis?

Callistemon21

^We put the blame for the slaughter of Palestinians firmly on the Israelis^

All Israelis?

It's collective responsibility isn't it. I've no doubt there are some who don't like the things being done. But the country must be held responsible. I don't expect them to be punished. I do expect them to make reparation.
Not all Germans were Nazis. Not all Russians are communist

Glorianny

Callistemon21

We put the blame for the slaughter of Palestinians firmly on the Israelis

All Israelis?

It's collective responsibility isn't it. I've no doubt there are some who don't like the things being done. But the country must be held responsible. I don't expect them to be punished. I do expect them to make reparation.
Not all Germans were Nazis. Not all Russians are communist

That's why people use the term Nazis now, not Germans (and yes, I know very well that many Germans did not support Hitler).
And Putin rather than Russians.

It's collective responsibility isn't it.
Exactly the sentiment that ends in attacks on Jewish people.

Glorianny

Callistemon21

We put the blame for the slaughter of Palestinians firmly on the Israelis

All Israelis?

It's collective responsibility isn't it. I've no doubt there are some who don't like the things being done. But the country must be held responsible. I don't expect them to be punished. I do expect them to make reparation.
Not all Germans were Nazis. Not all Russians are communist

If we are talking about collective responsibility than it must also be applied to the Palestinians for the attacks on 7/10/23.

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny

Callistemon21

We put the blame for the slaughter of Palestinians firmly on the Israelis

All Israelis?

It's collective responsibility isn't it. I've no doubt there are some who don't like the things being done. But the country must be held responsible. I don't expect them to be punished. I do expect them to make reparation.
Not all Germans were Nazis. Not all Russians are communist

If we are talking about collective responsibility than it must also be applied to the Palestinians for the attacks on 7/10/23.

No because the Palestinians did not attack Israel. The Palestinian government did not authorise the attack and there has not been an election in Gaza since 2006. They have effectively been under Israeli occupation since 1967
The group which attacked Israel was a terrorist group. If countries are responsible for the terrorists they produce then Saudi Arabia should be held responsible for 9/11.

Glorianny

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny

Callistemon21

We put the blame for the slaughter of Palestinians firmly on the Israelis

All Israelis?

It's collective responsibility isn't it. I've no doubt there are some who don't like the things being done. But the country must be held responsible. I don't expect them to be punished. I do expect them to make reparation.
Not all Germans were Nazis. Not all Russians are communist

If we are talking about collective responsibility than it must also be applied to the Palestinians for the attacks on 7/10/23.

No because the Palestinians did not attack Israel. The Palestinian government did not authorise the attack and there has not been an election in Gaza since 2006. They have effectively been under Israeli occupation since 1967
The group which attacked Israel was a terrorist group. If countries are responsible for the terrorists they produce then Saudi Arabia should be held responsible for 9/11.

Glorianny Palestinians did attack Israeli citizens on Israeli soil.

Palestinian fire missiles into Israel on a daily basis.

Hamas are Palestinians, they were elected in 2006.

Not worth it, GrannyGravy

As another poster said:

(S)he only does it to annoy because (s)he knows it teases
Lewis Caroll, Alice in Wonderland

He’s a nasty piece of work.

And what can he give the people of Rotherham.
He’s not interested in helping anyone except himself.
He’s also power mad.
I believe this is his fifth stab at getting into Parliament.
First it was Labour,, then Independent party, then UKIP .
Then something else.
He will say anything if it suits him.

I’m very disappointed to be honest.
But interested to see his performance in the House of Commons.

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny

Callistemon21

We put the blame for the slaughter of Palestinians firmly on the Israelis

All Israelis?

It's collective responsibility isn't it. I've no doubt there are some who don't like the things being done. But the country must be held responsible. I don't expect them to be punished. I do expect them to make reparation.
Not all Germans were Nazis. Not all Russians are communist

If we are talking about collective responsibility than it must also be applied to the Palestinians for the attacks on 7/10/23.

No because the Palestinians did not attack Israel. The Palestinian government did not authorise the attack and there has not been an election in Gaza since 2006. They have effectively been under Israeli occupation since 1967
The group which attacked Israel was a terrorist group. If countries are responsible for the terrorists they produce then Saudi Arabia should be held responsible for 9/11.

Glorianny Palestinians did attack Israeli citizens on Israeli soil.

Palestinian fire missiles into Israel on a daily basis.

Hamas are Palestinians, they were elected in 2006.

That means that no one under the age of 35 has voted in an election, but you hold them responsible. How is that fair?

Gaza is not a free country. The UN has ruled that it is effectively under Israeli control and an occupied country. Is that just?

7 million Palestinians are refugees.
If Jews deserved a country of their own don't those 7 million?

How anyone can condemn a people who have been held under occupation for so long and who have no safe place, no country and no freedom of movement I don't understand.

Callistemon21

^It's collective responsibility isn't it.^
Exactly the sentiment that ends in attacks on Jewish people.

Exactly!

As an ex Rochdalian, the best MP they ever had was Cyril Smith, despite him since being outed as lass than "nice".

Glorianny
Just about all the hamas Palestinians that took part in the massacre on Oct 7th were young men, many of them teenagers as well, unbelievably.They knew exactly what they were doing and hugely enjoyed it.
You seemed to have changed tack now and say it was only terrorists not a government, but hamas are called terrorists by lots of countries and at the same time are the effective government of Gaza ( not effective at the moment!)
They did have a safe place to live, Gaza! And according to those interviewed had good lives until hamas provoked Israel into acting.Of course if hamas had used the masses of money going into Gaza for the benefit of all the people there their lives would have been even better.
You know all this am sure, but constantly twist it to suit your own views.

Hellogirl1

As an ex Rochdalian, the best MP they ever had was Cyril Smith, despite him since being outed as lass than "nice".

Less than nice?!!

There were allegations of child sexual abuse for goodness sake.

Greciangirl

He’s a nasty piece of work.

And what can he give the people of Rotherham.
He’s not interested in helping anyone except himself.
He’s also power mad.
I believe this is his fifth stab at getting into Parliament.
First it was Labour,, then Independent party, then UKIP .
Then something else.
He will say anything if it suits him.

I’m very disappointed to be honest.
But interested to see his performance in the House of Commons.

Why do people keep getting Rochdale confused with Rotherham?? They are completely different places.

Some very good points from all sides and none here but I will just remind everyone that we have a GE due and Galloway may not be keeping his seat for long.

Let's calm down the rhetoric and stop buying into the media frenzy, which is deliberately stirring people up.

Not me though...