1 March 2024, 13:56 | Updated: 1 March 2024, 13:57

By Henry Riley

In 20 years time, if you tell the tale of the Rochdale by-election, I’m confident people simply would not believe it.

Just one minute after the polls had closed I was told by George Galloway's campaign manager that he was virtually declaring victory - and just six hours later at 4am we were huddled in a Suzuki car dealership in Rochdale as the Workers Party of Britain candidate hosted a victory rally.

Easily the most bizarre campaign in modern political history culminated in one of the most divisive figures in British politics once again being given the right to sit on the House of Commons’ green benches.

This is now the fourth constituency Mr Galloway has represented. The self-styled showman has been a fringe figure for some time, but in recent years has been close to an irrelevance after poor showings in the London Mayoral election, and the Batley and Spen by-election.

His political obituary was well and truly written - and the thought of returning to Parliament is unlikely to have crossed the minds of even his most loyal supporters.........

© LBC