Video: As Miliband totters, Galloway celebrates his Bradford Spring

LABOUR today denied it had neglected northern voters as the inquest into George Galloway’s sensational by-election victory in Bradford West began.

Respect candidate Mr Galloway swept to a dramatic win in the poll, securing a 10,000-plus majority in what he called a “massive rejection” of mainstream parties.

Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman admitted: “It is a very bad result, there’s no denying it.”

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But she said: “I don’t think it’s true to say this is a case of us taking a constituency for granted, that’s not what happened here.

“I think we are going to have to learn lessons. We are going to have to have very, very thorough discussions with all the local Labour people and the local community up in Bradford so we can learn lessons and we have to rebuild from here.”

Mr Galloway won 18,341 votes to the 8,201 for Labour candidate Imran Hussain.

Labour went into the contest - sparked by the resignation due to ill-health of Marsha Singh - the overwhelming favourites with bookmakers.

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Some closed their books yesterday, however, after receiving a late flurry of large bets that Mr Galloway would cause a serious upset.

As he did in the 2005 general election, when he dramatically swiped an east London seat from his former party, Mr Galloway targeted the votes of a large Asian community.

Turnout in the poll was just over 50% - considered high for such a contest, especially in an urban area.

Ms Harman defended Labour’s fight in the constituency, saying: “There had been active campaigning over a long period of time, but something did go very badly wrong and our connections, roots and engagement with the local community and people up and down that constituency obviously were not deep enough, not strong enough.

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“We need to review that and understand what happened and learn lessons.

“But the idea we were simply neglectful and absent is not the case, it’s actually more complicated than that.”

The Conservatives polled 2,746 votes, suffering a swing of -22.78%, but party chairman Baroness Sayeeda Warsi attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband for failing to capitalise on the Government’s recent difficulties.

“If Ed Miliband can’t get his act together after a week like this when is he going to get his act together?” she told Radio 4’s Today programme.

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“This is a Labour seat, has been for many, many decades and last night they lost it in spectacular fashion.”

She added: “We saw Bradford West saying, ‘You (Labour) can’t take us for granted, we’re no longer going to vote for you’.”

Baroness Warsi admitted it had “not been a good night” for the Tories with their vote “going down quite drastically”, but claimed: “When parties are in Government and they’re making some very difficult decisions, they don’t win by-elections.”

Speaking at last night’s count, Mr Galloway toasted his victory, telling Sky News: “It is a very comprehensive defeat for New Labour, it is a pathetic performance by the Government parties.

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“The big three political parties have had a very salutary, unkind lesson this evening and I hope that they all take note.

“The people of Bradford have spoken this evening for people in inner cities everywhere in the United Kingdom.”

Unlike after his 2005 election victory in Bethnal Green and Bow, where he said he would serve only one term, he said he hoped to be MP for Bradford for the long term.

Ms Harman later told Today: “We are changing the party and one of the things we are really thinking about is how we engage with people in a really substantial, meaningful way and really listen to them.

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“We build our policy by engaging with people, by listening to people, by not being out of touch and by understanding their concerns about living standards and the NHS.

“Obviously our relationship with people in Bradford was not sufficiently strong that it was unable to withstand the George Galloway/Respect bandwagon, and we have to understand that.”

Meanwhile, bookmakers William Hill cut odds on Mr Miliband not leading his party into the next general election from 5/2 to 9/4.

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: “The result was a triumph for Respect but potentially a disaster for Labour.”

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Labour health spokeswoman Diane Abbott suggested that Mr Galloway was helped by Westminster’s concentration on peripheral issues like the imposition of VAT on hot takeaway food. The by-election took place the day after Labour leader Ed Miliband visited a branch of Greggs bakers and bought a sausage roll to highlight the Government’s difficulties on the issue.

Writing on Twitter, Ms Abbott said: “Had an early night. Woke up just now went online shocked to discover George Galloway won Bradford West!

“Most Labour people hate Galloway so much they completely underestimate him. He knows how to campaign on the ground.

“Galloway understands that, outside Westminster bubble, there are those for whom Iraq war remains unforgotten and unforgiven.

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“Westminster was wittering on about pasty tax . Meanwhile, back in the real world, George Galloway was going door to door in Bradford.”

Labour’s press office said that Mr Galloway had won support from all major parties.

“Extraordinary result for Galloway,” they wrote. “Disappointing we didn’t get enough support across Bradford West but we’ll learn lessons and fight hard to win it back.

“Labour vote dropped 20%, Tories dropped 22.7%, Libs 7%. All main parties should reflect on slump in support to Galloway in Bradford West.”

And Dudley’s Labour MP Ian Austin said: “Clearly grim result for us, but how can Galloway - who saluted Saddam - compare UK to Libya and Syria dictators by calling it Bradford Spring?”