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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Josh Halliday and Aneesa Ahmed in Rochdale

‘They don’t represent us’: Rochdale voters on why they deserted major parties

George Galloway Rochdale Hassan Ali Sir Keir Starmer
A mural with the word 'Rochdale' is seen on the side of a former mill in the town.
A mural with the word 'Rochdale' is seen on the side of a former mill in Rochdale. Some voters said they had voted for the first time to send George Galloway to parliament – and deliver a message to Labour. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

In the freezing dark outside Rochdale leisure centre, Hassan Ali, 26, celebrated George Galloway’s stunning victory hours before the result was officially declared. “We have created history tonight,” he said in the small hours of Friday, surrounded by dozens of young men, slapping each other on the back and video-calling friends in English, Urdu and Bengali.

“Our families have voted for Labour for many years because they’ve got used to ticking the flower box, but this is a vote for change,” said Ali, a community worker.

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