Rochdale by-election LIVE results and reaction as polls close

Voters in Rochdale will choose their new MP in a by-election that is being watched closely across the country. There are 11 candidates standing to replace the late Sir Tony Lloyd who died last month after his cancer developed into an incurable form of leukaemia.

Sir Tony retained the Rochdale constituency for Labour at the last general election in 2019 with a majority of 9,668. Labour selected Lancashire county councillor Azhar Ali as their candidate to stand in the by-election, but the party later withdrew its support for him.

It came after Coun Ali apologised for 'deeply offensive' comments he made about Israel last year. Green Party candidate Guy Otten pulled out of the race a week earlier after 'some regrettable social media posts' he made 'a number of years ago' came to light.

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Both candidates will remain on the ballot papers next to the logos of the parties who selected them. Former Labour MP George Galloway is also standing in the by-election alongside former Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk who is the candidate for Reform UK.

The full list of candidates standing in the Rochdale by-election on February 29, as they will appear on the ballot papers, is as follows:

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm. The counting process will begin soon after with results expected at around 3am.

We're still awaiting official figures.

'Taking it as it comes'

But here's more of the buffet.

Reminder we're expecting a result around 3am.

Oddschecker have the former Labour candidate as marginal favourite. Odds of 5/6 and an implied probability of 52%. Here's why he's no longer the Labour candidate.

One of the candidates is already thanking voters.

Counting is