Unprecedented Victory

So George Galloway has won by an astounding majority of 10,000 VOTES. 10, 000 vote majority. I have studied politics for 5 years and never have I come across a by election with such a victory. It is a momentous occasion for Mr Galloway and his party. But the purpose of my post isn’t to talk about Galloway, it is to identify what Galloway represents, in other words, sussing out the why he won.

A lot of people are stating that Galloway played the race card and targeted the Muslim community within Bradford West. Ok so lets say he did, so what? This is politics and lets be real, they’re are tactical strategies candidates have to employ in order to succeed. I am not saying that i agree if it is true that GG used the race card, all i am saying is we are missing the bigger picture. And surely labour can be accused of a similar tactic? Their candidate, Imran Hussain, a British Muslim with Pakstani heritage, did they hope they could just throw him in because people would identify with his race? Lazy game playing Ed Miliband. Lazy lazy lazy!!

The bigger picture being that he has effectively empowered a segment of society that has for long felt disempowered. He has given confidence and hope to the youth, who have for so long been disillusioned with politics and their state of affairs.

Statistics for this by election, demonstrate that at this election there was a significant increase of women and young voters. For me that is incredible news. I don’t care if you don’t like George Galloway and whatever you think about him, but for him to cause a significant rise in female and young voters that in itself is an achievement that deserves to be applauded.

George Galloway did not run a huge publicity campaign, rather he took to the streets of Bradford and he talked to the people. He, unlike the labour and conservative candidates, appeared at the hustings and answered questions in a democratic fashion. He reaped the rewards of what he had sown. If you want people to vote you into power to REPRESENT THEM, then appear in front of them to TALK to them and to LISTEN to them. If you are absent, it gives the message that you are severely disconnected from your community and highly arrogant.

AND that is the problem, the major parties took their voters for granted, and thats what happens when you stop appreciating the people that put you in the positions that you are in. The people have the power then, to discredit you. Because power in politics, lies with the people.

So a message to the other parties, wake up, stop pretending that you care, and start making an effort. George Galloway has captured the hearts of his constituency, i am skeptical of what he can achieve alone, but to me this by election has been electric and its outcome, positive, For it has demonstrated that people will rise up if they are dissatisfied, they will rise up and be empowerment. And empowerment is the first ingredient to success.