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2024 Rochdale by-election

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2024 Rochdale by-election
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Boundary of Rochdale in Greater Manchester
MP before election

Tony Lloyd
Labour

Elected MP

TBD

A by-election will take place on 29 February 2024 in the UK Parliament constituency of Rochdale following the death of Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd.[1][2][3][4]

Constituency

Rochdale is a constituency in the North West region of England, located in the east of Greater Manchester.[2] The constituency is based on the town of the same name.[2]

After the 1997 general election, Rochdale was considered a Labour–Liberal Democrat marginal.[5] This changed when the UK Independence Party finished second in the 2015 general election.[6] In the 2016 European Union membership referendum, Rochdale voted decisively for Brexit.[7]

The Rochdale constituency has above average unemployment and many people living in poverty.[8] There is a significant British Asian community in the constituency.[9] Since 1997, the constituency has also included the semi-rural suburb of Littleborough, one of the relatively prosperous areas of the borough. A by-election last took place in this area in 1995, in the former Littleborough and Saddleworth constituency. The Liberal Democrats won the by-election, though Labour won both successor constituencies (the other being Oldham East and Saddleworth) at the 1997 general election. At the last general election in 2019, there was a 60.1% turnout with an electorate of 78,909.[2] Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the composition of the constituency is subject to minor boundary changes at the next general election to bring the electorate within the permitted range, with the Spotland and Falinge ward being transferred to the new constituency of Heywood and Middleton North.[10]

Background

Sir Tony Lloyd served as the MP for Rochdale from 2017 until his death in 2024.

Tony Lloyd was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency in the 2017 general election, and was re-elected in the 2019 general election.[11] He had previously been a Labour MP between 1983 and 2012,[12] the interim Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2015 to 2017,[13] and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 1997 to 1999.[3][4]

Shortly after his election as MP for Rochdale, Lloyd returned to frontbench politics as Shadow Housing Minister in the Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn from 2017 to 2018.[12] He was promoted to Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 2018 and became Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland in 2019.[14][15] He was replaced as Shadow Scotland Secretary in the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer but continued as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.[16] He resigned from the frontbench in 2020 to recover from COVID-19.[17]

In January 2023, Lloyd announced that he was undergoing chemotherapy after a diagnosis for cancer, and subsequently did not attend parliament or face-to-face functions under medical advice.[18][19] On 11 January 2024, he stated that he had an untreatable form of leukaemia and had decided to end hospital treatment to spend his remaining time with his family.[20][21] His family announced that he had "died peacefully" at home in the morning of 17 January.[3][4][22][23]

On 29 January 2024, the writ was moved in the House of Commons, with the by-election due to take place on 29 February 2024.[24]

Candidates

Azhar Ali was selected as the Labour Party candidate, on 27 January 2024. He is a Lancashire county councillor and was, at the time of his selection, the leader of the Labour group on the council. He was also a candidate for the Westminster seat of Pendle in 2015 and 2019.[25] He was selected from a shortlist of three, including Westminster lobby journalist Paul Waugh, and Nazia Rehman, a member of Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and cabinet member.[26] During the campaign, Ali came under fire over the content of a recording obtained by the Daily Mail, in which he suggested at a meeting that Israel allowed the 7 October attacks to go ahead, in order to "green light" action in Gaza. Upon the recording being made public, Ali retracted his comments and apologised.[27] However, following information about additional comments by Ali, Labour withdrew its support for Ali on 12 February, and the party will no longer devote resources to his campaign.[28][29] Prior to the withdrawal, Ali had received abuse for Labour's position on Israel despite his own support for Palestine.[30]

Simon Danczuk was selected as the candidate for Reform UK. Danczuk was the Labour MP for Rochdale from 2010 until 2015, when he was suspended from the party after it emerged he had exchanged explicit messages with a 17-year-old girl.[31] He then sat as an independent until the 2017 election where he ran for re-election as an independent but finished in fifth place with 1.8%, losing his deposit.[32] Despite the economic liberalism of Reform[33], Danczuk is styling himself as an "old Labour" candidate with a focus on local issues rather than the "woke" politics of modern Labour or the Israel-Palestine conflict.[34]

Iain Donaldson was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate. Donaldson was a councillor in Manchester for 19 years and worked as an administrator at the University of Manchester. He stated that his intentions would be to hold the government to account over the NHS, cost of living crisis, and tolerance of water pollution. He received the endorsement of Paul Rowen, the constituency's most recent Liberal Democrat MP.[35]

Conservative Party candidate Paul Ellison owns a local landscaping firm. He was named "Man of Rochdale" in 2019 for his involvement with the Royal Horticultural Society's In Bloom campaign.[36][37] His focus is on improving the town centre, reducing antisocial behaviours, and protecting greenery in Rochdale. He has expressed concern over Rochdale's negative image.[34]

Former Labour and Respect Party MP George Galloway is standing for the Workers Party of Britain.[38] He is focusing his campaign on support for Palestine. He has been critical of Keir Starmer. His campaigning has targeted Muslim voters in Rochdale[34] and was criticised by Azhar Ali as divisive.[30]

Guy Otten was selected as the Green Party candidate. He is a retired solicitor and tribunal judge.[34] On 7 February, however, after social media posts discussing Gaza and the Muslim faith he had made between 2013 and 2015 came to light, the party announced that they were no longer endorsing his candidacy. Otten subsequently said that he had "decided to leave the stage" and would not campaign in the election.[39]

There are four independent candidates. Michael Howarth is a local business owner who owns a number of bars in Rochdale[34][40] and is campaigning on local issues and support for additional NHS funding.[41] William Howarth is campaigning on issues related to the Rochdale child sex abuse ring and child sexual abuse at large, founding the organisation Parents Against Grooming.[34][42] David Tully is campaigning on various local issues.[43] Mark Coleman is a climate change activist and former vicar of Rochdale who is campaigning for "radical action on climate".[44] He was jailed in April 2023 for his part in a Just Stop Oil protest in Bishopsgate, London. Despite running as an independent, he has the support of two local Labour Party officers. He formerly ran as a Green Party candidate for council elections in Liverpool.[45]

2024 Rochdale by-election[46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour[a] Azhar Ali
no description Mark Coleman N/A
Reform UK Simon Danczuk
Liberal Democrats Iain Donaldson
Conservative Paul Ellison
Workers Party George Galloway N/A
no description Michael Howarth N/A
Independent William Howarth N/A
Green[b] Guy Otten
Monster Raving Loony Ravin Rodent Subortna N/A
Independent David Tully N/A
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Previous result

General election 2019: Rochdale[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Lloyd 24,475 51.6 –6.4
Conservative Atifa Shah 14,807 31.2 +2.8
Brexit Party Chris Green 3,867 8.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Andy Kelly 3,312 7.0 –1.0
Green Sarah Croke 986 2.1 N/A
Majority 9,668 20.4 –9.2
Turnout 47,447 60.1 –4.0
Labour hold Swing –4.6

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Although Ali was suspended from the Labour Party on 12 February 2024, his name will still remain as a Labour candidate on the ballot.[28]
  2. ^ The Green Party withdrew Otten's endorsement on 7 February 2024. His name will remain as a Green Party candidate on the ballot paper.[39]

References

  1. ^ "Rochdale WILL have a by-election after MP's death as next general election not expected until second half of 2024". Rochdale Online. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Seat Details - Rochdale". Electoral Calculus. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Sir Tony Lloyd: Veteran Labour MP for Rochdale dies aged 73". Sky News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd dies 'peacefully at home'". BBC News. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  5. ^ "VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Rochdale". BBC News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Rochdale parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  7. ^ Statham, Nick (24 June 2016). "EU referendum: Rochdale votes to leave". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  8. ^ McKeegan, Alice (18 September 2009). "Rochdale unemployment hits 6 per cent". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  9. ^ "How life has changed in Rochdale: Census 2021". ONS. 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  11. ^ "Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd dies days after announcing terminal cancer diagnosis". The Independent. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Tony Lloyd". parliament.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  13. ^ Perraudin, Frances (11 February 2016). "Labour's Tony Lloyd announces Greater Manchester mayoral bid". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Jeremy Corbyn sacks Labour's Owen Smith over referendum call". BBC News. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Labour MP for Rochdale announced new shadow Secretary for Scotland". The National. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  16. ^ Syal, Rajeev; McIntyre, Niamh; Duncan, Pamela; Barr, Caelainn (6 April 2020). "Ed Miliband returns to Labour frontbench in Keir Starmer reshuffle". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  17. ^ Abbit, Beth (28 April 2020). "Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd steps down from front bench after spell in ICU". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd reveals chemotherapy treatment after diagnosis". BBC News. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Sir Tony Lloyd to hold advice surgeries via telephone or Zoom as MP undergoes chemotherapy". Rochdale Online. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Veteran Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd says he has untreatable form of leukaemia". Sky News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Labour MP Tony Lloyd reveals he has untreatable leukaemia". BBC News. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  22. ^ Adu, Aletha; correspondent, Aletha Adu Political (17 January 2024). "Labour MP Tony Lloyd dies 'surrounded by family' at age of 73". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 January 2024. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ Barton, Alex (17 January 2024). "Sir Tony Lloyd, Rochdale Labour MP, dies 'peacefully at home' aged 73". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  24. ^ "A message from the family of the late Sir Tony Lloyd MP". Twitter. @tony4rochdale. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  25. ^ Khan, Shuiab (27 January 2024). "Brierfield's Azhar Ali announced as Labour candidate for Rochdale". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  26. ^ Wilkinson, Damon (27 January 2024). "Labour choose Lancashire council leader to fight Rochdale by-election following death of Sir Tony Lloyd". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Labour candidate 'wrong' to say Israel allowed 7 October attack - but will still stand in by-election". Sky News. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate". BBC. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  29. ^ Courea, Eleni; Adu, Aletha (12 February 2024). "Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate after Israel-Gaza remarks". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  30. ^ a b Pidd, Helen (11 February 2024). "'The ultimate protest against Labour': George Galloway's bid to win Rochdale". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Danczuk on sexting: 'I was in a dark place'". BBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Rochdale parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News". Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  33. ^ Hayward, Freddie (12 May 2023). "Who supports Reform UK?". New Statesman. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  34. ^ a b c d e f Murray, Jessica (13 February 2024). "Who are the Rochdale byelection candidates – and what do they stand for?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Rochdale by-election: Lib Dem candidate Iain Donaldson launches campaign". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  36. ^ "Rochdale by-election: Candidates list". BBC News. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  37. ^ "Paul Ellison and Ray Smith - Man of Rochdale 2019 joint winners". Rochdale Online. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  38. ^ Morgan, William (27 January 2024). "George Galloway throws his hat into the ring for Rochdale by-election to 'teach Labour a lesson'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  39. ^ a b Lythgoe, George (7 February 2024). "Rochdale by-election: Green Party candidate no longer endorsed by party just weeks before voters go to the polls". Rochdale Online. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  40. ^ "Vicolo del Vino - bottoms up at Rochdale's new wine cellar". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Rochdale By-Election 2024: Michael Howarth". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  42. ^ "Rochdale By-Election 2024: William Howarth". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  43. ^ "Rochdale By-Election 2024: David Tully". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  44. ^ "Rochdale By-Election 2024: Mark Coleman". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  45. ^ "Twice jailed Just Stop Oil supporter Mark Coleman to stand in parliamentary by-election". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  46. ^ Rochdale Borough Council (2 February 2024). "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED AND NOTICE OF POLL: Rochdale Constituency". rochdale.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  47. ^ "Statement of persons nominated" (PDF). Rochdale Borough Council. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2019.
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