Jubilant victor hails overwhelming result as ‘Bradford Spring’

The statement immediately drew criticism from his opponents as being a tasteless exaggeration compared to the struggles for democracy in Libya, Egypt and Syria where thousands have died, yet his message has resonated with legions of young Asian voters.

In their thousands they broke with decades old traditions and voted against the wishes of their parents and community elders.

The scale of the win was remarkable – taking more than 55 per cent of the votes cast, smashing the Labour majority and obliterating the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

The scenes were little short of extraordinary, the streets of Bradford at 3am littered with abandoned cars as hundreds of supporters left their vehicles to hear their hero’s tub-thumping victory speech from the top of a white stretched Hummer limousine.

The roar of chanting followers was like something from a freedom movement in an oppressed nation – the “Bradford Spring” may have been over the top in many eyes, but Mr Galloway was able to tap into that raw emotion like no other politician could.

Whether whipping up such a fervour is good for community cohesion in the city’s notoriously segregated housing districts is another matter. But as a campaign tactic it meant his had an energy that inspired people in a way his opponents could never match.

Supporters compared him with the legendary human rights activist Malcolm X.

Respect campaign volunteer Sharat Hussain explained how young people were prepared to even split their families.

“We’ve been waiting for such a long time for this in Bradford but now someone has come to inspire the young people to vote for themselves,” the youth worker said. “We believe in him, he is our Malcolm X.

“The young people decided they are not going to follow the elders any longer. They feel they have been let down too many times. Look around at Bradford, there is no work, we have been failed.

“My family follows Labour, they are all Labour, so this can create a lot of conflict. But we do not believe in that system any more. People want change.

“It came to a point when we stopped and said ‘we are going to make our own decisions’ – George Galloway gave us that dream.”

It is language the great orator himself would be proud of, but when the dust has settled, the adrenaline subsides and the day-to-day grind of being an MP for a deprived constituency battling to save libraries and community projects becomes reality, will Gorgeous George still be the right man for Bradford?

Most think not. But then most critically underestimated him this week, too.