Left-wing firebrand George Galloway sworn into parliament
More Videos
0 seconds of 1 minute, 36 seconds Volume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled
Shortcuts Open/Close / or ?
Play/Pause SPACE
Increase Volume ↑
Decrease Volume ↓
Seek Forward →
Seek Backward ←
Captions On/Off c
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f
Mute/Unmute m
Decrease Caption Size -
Increase Caption Size + or =
Seek % 0-9
Next Up
Reform leader Richard Tice shares his thoughts on Budget
01:16
twitter facebook Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/fCGxTAJg Copied
Live
00:00
01:36
01:36
More Videos
Close
At about 2.45am on Friday March 1 last week is the moment that Rishi Sunak is understood to have realised that extremism in the UK and on the streets had truly got out of control.
A very senior government source described the result where far-left former Labour MP George Galloway comfortably won a bitter and poisonous Rochdale by-election as "a moment of horror for us all".
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Link Sponsored Link
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Spin Power Scrubber
New Cleaning Tool Breaks All Sales Records in U. S.Spin Power Scrubber Learn More
Undo
They knew it would lead to the "horrifying" moment today at 2.30pm when Galloway was sworn in as an MP "on the back of a campaign which pandered to anti-Israel Islamic extremism".
The source went on: "The Prime Minister and all of us knew then that this is something to be incredibly worried about. It was a real 'break the glass and get out the emergency speech' moment. We could not sit back."
Indeed, it was what led Mr Sunak to come out at 5.30pm that evening to deliver his speech from the steps of Downing Street on extremism.
Sponsored
primenutritionsecrets.com
primenutritionsecrets.comCardiologist Begs 60+ Males To Burn Fat With This Tip (Every Morning)
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
While he missed out the far left, he identified Islamists and the far right but specifically named Galloway who earlier in the week he had described in Parliament as antisemitic.
Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
READ MORE: Left-wing firebrand George Galloway sworn into parliament
George Galloway gives his victory speech after the Rochdale declaration (Image: Getty)
The by-election had shown the Prime Minister and, according to sources, his Home Secretary James Cleverly a number of things.
First was that Labour had lost control of the antisemitic, extremist element within its own party and could not be trusted to keep a lid on the problems which had exploded under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
The decision to ditch their candidate Azhar Ali after he had been selected and after Sir Keir Starmer had sent senior MPs to defend him when it was revealed he had pushed antisemitic conspiracy theories against Israel showed that Labour was "a complete mess on the issue", the source noted.
But here it is understood that Sunak and Cleverly disagreed. With Galloway basking in the glory of his victory, Cleverly, much more political by nature, is understood to have wanted to go on the attack on Labour while the Prime Minister wanted to have a moment of unity against extremism in his speech.
This may be why the "far left" were not mentioned but it feels like the battle with Labour on an issue which could define the election is not far away.
Don't miss...
Nigel Farage blasts Ofcom after TV watchdog launches investigation into him [REVEAL]
Rishi Sunak is looking for a way to bring Lee Anderson back into the Tories [REACT]
Rishi Sunak failed to call out the 'Far Left' in attack on extremism [INSIGHT]
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
George Galloway is introduced to the Commons chamber as a new MP (Image: BBC)
The second factor was the nature of the by-election, where Galloway went around with what seemed to be Islamic henchmen and other candidates, particularly Reform's Simon Danczuk, complained of intimidation and threats.
But it was the way that the campaign centred around Gaza, hatred of Israel, apparent pandering to antisemitism and what seemed to be an encouragement of Islamist extremism which was what did it for the Prime Minister.
The senior source said: "There is a recognition that things have to change - we have to draw a line in the sand here and go on the front foot to tackle this issue.,"
There has been widespread anger over how the police, especially in London, have taken a soft approach to the demonstrations, attacks on Jews and regular uses of extremist language whether it is the song "from the river to the sea" being sung in Whitehall or beamed on to Big Ben or the comparisons of Israel as Nazis on placards.
The source said: "I think we all realised that a new approach is needed and that was the real message of the Prime Minister."
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rishi Sunak is looking for a way to bring Lee Anderson back into the Conservative Party
251 Comments
Rishi Sunak finally showed us what he's really all about in one brilliant moment
876 Comments
Letter demanding Rishi Sunak's resignation signed by 5,000 Tory supporters in 24 hours
1281 Comments
'End era of mass migration' Robert Jenrick demands after Rishi Sunak's chilling warning
518 Comments
Labour MP blasts George Galloway's 'bizarre' bid to oust Angela Rayner on BBC QT
115 Comments
Labour's Rochdale fiasco will give the Tories a glimmer of hope, writes Leo McKinstry
9 Comments
Jeremy Hunt issues defiant eight word slap-down after office is daubed with vile phrase
1239 Comments
All Rishi Sunak may end up achieving is leading us into Starmergeddon
11 Comments
George Galloway will shake up Commons on explosive return, says top pollster John Curtice
789 Comments
Rochdale fiasco shows general election not 'in the bag', senior Labour figures fear
144 Comments
Huge Pro-Palestine protests to erupt today just hours after Rishi Sunak's chilling warning
3312 Comments
'Big tax cuts and a 10-point boost in polls' - Rishi Sunak's new plan for a May election
590 Comments
Ugly Rochdale by-election is just a taste of things to come
138 Comments
Labour 'cowards and hypocrites' for opposing Rwanda migrants plan
1382 Comments
Health Insight Journal
New Nеurоpathу Device Leaves Experts Speechless (Works Fast)Health Insight Journal Learn More
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
The monumental terror threat facing Britain that Rishi Sunak failed to mention
221 Comments
Lee Anderson joins Reform UK in move which leaves 'serious questions' about Rishi Sunak
1584 Comments
George Galloway humiliated as David Davis snubs request to swear him into Parliament
509 Comments
George Galloway issues fresh rallying cry to 'smash Keir Starmer's War Party'
250 Comments
One major omission from Rishi Sunak's extremism speech is a much bigger problem
714 Comments
Rochdale by-election LIVE: George Galloway and Reform hope to crush Labour as polls close
1006 Comments
Rishi Sunak is looking for a way to bring Lee Anderson back into the Conservative Party
251 Comments
Rishi Sunak finally showed us what he's really all about in one brilliant moment
876 Comments
Letter demanding Rishi Sunak's resignation signed by 5,000 Tory supporters in 24 hours
1281 Comments
'End era of mass migration' Robert Jenrick demands after Rishi Sunak's chilling warning
518 Comments
Labour MP blasts George Galloway's 'bizarre' bid to oust Angela Rayner on BBC QT
115 Comments
Labour's Rochdale fiasco will give the Tories a glimmer of hope, writes Leo McKinstry
9 Comments
Jeremy Hunt issues defiant eight word slap-down after office is daubed with vile phrase
1239 Comments
All Rishi Sunak may end up achieving is leading us into Starmergeddon
11 Comments
George Galloway will shake up Commons on explosive return, says top pollster John Curtice
789 Comments
Rochdale fiasco shows general election not 'in the bag', senior Labour figures fear
144 Comments
Huge Pro-Palestine protests to erupt today just hours after Rishi Sunak's chilling warning
3312 Comments
'Big tax cuts and a 10-point boost in polls' - Rishi Sunak's new plan for a May election
590 Comments
Ugly Rochdale by-election is just a taste of things to come
138 Comments
Labour 'cowards and hypocrites' for opposing Rwanda migrants plan
1382 Comments
The monumental terror threat facing Britain that Rishi Sunak failed to mention
221 Comments
Lee Anderson joins Reform UK in move which leaves 'serious questions' about Rishi Sunak
1584 Comments
George Galloway humiliated as David Davis snubs request to swear him into Parliament
509 Comments
George Galloway issues fresh rallying cry to 'smash Keir Starmer's War Party'
250 Comments
One major omission from Rishi Sunak's extremism speech is a much bigger problem
714 Comments
Rochdale by-election LIVE: George Galloway and Reform hope to crush Labour as polls close
1006 Comments
Rishi Sunak is looking for a way to bring Lee Anderson back into the Conservative Party
251 Comments
Rishi Sunak finally showed us what he's really all about in one brilliant moment
876 Comments
Letter demanding Rishi Sunak's resignation signed by 5,000 Tory supporters in 24 hours
1281 Comments
'End era of mass migration' Robert Jenrick demands after Rishi Sunak's chilling warning
518 Comments
Labour MP blasts George Galloway's 'bizarre' bid to oust Angela Rayner on BBC QT
115 Comments
Labour's Rochdale fiasco will give the Tories a glimmer of hope, writes Leo McKinstry
9 Comments
Jeremy Hunt issues defiant eight word slap-down after office is daubed with vile phrase
1239 Comments
It was perhaps directed to the police most of all.
But there is also a recognition that "this should have been stopped 20 years ago."
The source said: "Obviously it would have been better if it had been dealt with 20 years ago, but the next best thing to do is deal with it now. and that's what we are going to do."
Related articles Sunak warned 'chaos in England' has 'dragged down' Scots Tories and boosted SNP Lee Anderson crisis accelerated Tory collapse to less than 100 seats - poll Nigel Farage calls for investigation into Rochdale by-election postal voting 'Big tax cuts and a 10 point boost in the polls' - Sunak's plan for May election Rishi Sunak suffers new blow as 59th Tory MP announces he will step down