George Galloway Victory Speech in Rochdale

Your typical victory speech can prove underwhelming or mechanistic with the wrong speaker in charge. For example, we recently considered a President Trump victory speech—anything but mechanistic. And it's been many years since we last commented on a George Galloway victory speech. That's probably because he's not had the recent opportunities offered by Bradford West in 2012 or Bethnal Green in 2005.

But, he's back. And judging by his victory speech after the Rochdale by-election result was announced, he's back with a bang, winning nearly 40% of the vote.

Galloway Victory Speech Prompts Interruptions

The Galloway victory speech proved an odd, if rousing affair. That was because of the various interruptions from protesters, although George handled those very well.

His victory speech began in characteristically pugilistic form, albeit his delivery was very quiet. Menacingly quiet?

Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza. You will pay a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Gaza, in the Gaza Strip.

After the brief interruptions from the climate protester, George served notice on all the Rochdale town councillors in the run up to the local Rochdale elections in May.

But the Councillors have to go. And I intend to try to put together a Grand Alliance that will change Rochdale for the better.

Before going back on the anti-labour attack, George thanked everyone for their help and work in the campaign. We expect such elements in any victory or acceptance speech. It works.

Party Leaders in the Cross Hairs of this Galloway Victory Speech

The Galloway victory speech then moved back to familiar territory.

I want to tell Mr Starmer above all, that the plates have shifted tonight. And as Jacob Rees-Mogg just said on television, in talking of me as a Parliamentary orator of note, that Keir Starmer's problems just got 100 times more serious than they were before today. This is going to spark a movement, a landslide, a shifting of the tectonic plates in scores of Parliamentary constituencies beginning here in the North-West.

And, reaching his peroration we heard:

Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak are two cheeks of the same backside and they both got well and truly spanked tonight here in Rochdale.

And finally, he finished with:

God bless you. God bless Rochdale. God bless Gaza.

We've commented before on the use of human figure backdrops for major speeches. Ed Miliband featured them with his speeches. And they're very popular in the USA. But there's always a word of caution, particularly after a youngster fell asleep during a President Obama education speech. In Rochdale the varied faces, grimaces and pained expressions were a joy to watch as we listened to George. Now, that's always going to be beyond the control of any MP giving their by-election victory speech.

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