Reform candidate Simon Danczuk at a by-election hustings in Rochdale
The Rochdale by-election descended further into farce tonight as Reform UK's candidate was refused entry to a hustings.
Simon Danczuk was barred from entering the meeting at Wardleworth Community Centre by security, despite some of the other candidates cancelling.
Reform UK accused rival candidate George Galloway’s supporters of organising a hustings to “make Galloway look good”.
Leading Brexiteer and Reform's honorary president, Nigel Farage, warned: "Disgraceful scenes in Rochdale. Our democracy is failing.
Mr Danczuk said: “This sham hustings was organised to try and make Galloway look good, the organisers didn’t want his main challenger speaking and questioning Galloway’s Gaza agenda. How can a candidate look good if he refuses to debate?
“I explained to the organisers that basic concepts of British democracy meant that all candidates should have the opportunity to address the public, but they still refused me entry.
“And all they wanted to do was debate Gaza in the corridor. It’s clear that their idol, Galloway, is now running scared and cannot cope with scrutiny.”
Mr Galloway, who represents the Workers Party of Britain, branded himself “Mr Gaza” as he appealed for locals to lend him their votes to demonstrate their anger over the war.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was plunged into an antisemtisim crisis after two parliamentary election candidates were recorded making offensive comments about Israel.
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Sir Keir waited 48 hours before cutting ties with Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali after he claimed Israel allowed the October 7 massacre to happen so it could invade Gaza.
But Mr Ali is still standing for Parliament and will be on the ballot paper as the Labour candidate - although his former party has abandoned him.
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