I mean its essentially a protest vote. I don't think the people of Rochdale expect the outcome of their town's byelection to change the narrative in Gaza, but rather to send a message of discontent towards Keir Starmer and the current iteration of the Labour party, and perhaps a warning of how Starmer shouldn't take their vote for granted. I think Labour's candidate would have quite likely lost even if the whole anti-semitism scandal and consequent disowning of him by the party hadn't occurred. Weeks prior to that he was being booed pretty much every-time he was out canvassing.
So, it is 'virtue signalling' to Labour then?
So, why did Labour choose that candidate
in the first place if he was so disliked?
Perhaps this will help Starmer get a grip on the candidate selection processes in places like Rochdale, before the GE...
a shot across his bows, in that sense then?
I suspect many people just voted with their hearts rather than their heads, but let's hope for Rochdale's sake, the long term damage done via GG's election is minimal. The town has enough problems already without uniting the wrath of
both major party leaders against its newly elected MP.
Especially since GG is not someone to 'walk quietly and carry a big stick" is he?