George Galloway victory: Jewish council voices 'significant concern' over win in Rochdale

A Jewish organisation has voiced 'significant concern' over George Galloway's victory in the Rochdale by-election.

The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region (JRC) said his election as the new MP will spark worry among Jewish communities across our entire region. The organisation said that at a time of 'heightened tension', Mr Galloway's 'populist speech' will 'create anxiety' within the communities 'who are already contending with record levels of hate crime'.

In a statement issued on Friday morning, following the by-election results announcement, the Greater Manchester JRC said: "The election of George Galloway will naturally be a cause of significant concern for the Jewish community. By his own admission, Mr Galloway intends to speak about the conflict in Gaza before focusing on the people who have sent him to the Commons.

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"Galloway has a history of divisive rhetoric and associations with people who hold controversial views. At a time of heightened tension, toxic public discourse and instability, further populist speech will create anxiety for Jewish people who are already contending with record levels of hate crime.

"Community cohesion is coming under unprecedented pressure. It is now more important than ever that people concentrate on building bridges by ensuring a conflict taking place thousands of miles away is not used as an excuse to target Jewish people across the region.

"We have no doubt given his extensive record of contentious behaviour, that George Galloway will hinder rather than help with this critically important work."

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) also