Rishi Sunak labels George Galloway's victory 'beyond alarming' and 'forces seeking to break UK apart'

PM warns in No10 address that extremist groups are threatening British democracy.

Amidst the present Israel-Gaza crisis, UK democracy is allegedly being targeted, according to Rishi Sunak, who also claimed that forces opposed to British principles have taken control of the country's streets.

Mr Sunak condemned George Galloway's win in the Rochdale by-election, calling it "beyond alarming," and stated in a Downing Street speech that "forces here at home trying to tear us apart."

The speech came in response to mounting worries about the safety of Members of Parliament, namely worries that they are being singled out and intimidated by protesters, especially those calling for an end to hostilities in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Threats of violence and intimidation are foreign to our way of life, Mr Sunak stated, and they must always be opposed. While most Britons uphold these fundamental principles, there are loud and minor, antagonistic factions that do not. The far-right and Islamist radicals support and encourage one another. These groups are essentially two sides of the same extremist coin, and they are equally desperate to pretend that their violence is justified.

The prime minister promised to "redouble" support for the anti-extremism project Prevent and to revoke the visas of individuals attempting to enter the nation to "speech hate." Still, he made few further announcements in his speech.

Additionally, Mr Sunak's intervention followed a turbulent by-election in Rochdale when Mr Galloway, a contentious politician, prevailed despite aggressively campaigning on a truce in Gaza. "In recent weeks and months, we have seen a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality," Stated.

What started as protests on our streets have descended into intimidation, threats, and planned acts of violence. Children of Jewish descent are afraid to wear their school uniform for fear of being recognised. Muslim ladies are mistreated on the streets due to the deeds of a terrorist organisation with which they have no affiliation.

"Our democracy is now a target. Local activities and council meetings have been disrupted. Home is not a safe place for MPs. Safety concerns have caused the long-standing parliamentary conventions to be overturned.

Furthermore, it is quite concerning that the Rochdale by-election last night returned a candidate who downplays the horrors of what transpired on October 7, exalts Hezbollah, and has the support of Nick Gryphon, the racist former BNP leader."

After garnering around 40% of the vote in Rochdale, Mr Galloway, a former MP for Labour and Respect, emerged victorious in the fiercely contested constituency with a majority of 5,697.

Mr Galloway remarked that the Conservatives were "crushed" in the Rochdale by-election in response to the Prime Minister's criticism of his stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"In the by-election, they crushed the democratic process," he declared on Sky News, responding to everything they had said about me.

He continued, "We're talking about little Rishi Sunak in the fag-end of his prime ministership," in response to Mr Sunak's criticism.

"Don't speak to me as though he's descended from the mountain with stone tablets or as though anything he says is intended to impress me somehow. He didn't even place second or third; I have the democratic mandate here.

A vote on a Labour amendment was given to MPs during an SNP debate, which Speaker Lindsay Hoyle claimed was necessary to protect MPs, sparking controversy during last week's Commons discussion on a ceasefire.

Conservative backbencher Tobias Ellwood's family was forced to leave the house when activists attacked it earlier this month. In previous months, environmental protestors also set upon the houses of Mr Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party.

Earlier this week, Mr Sunak faced criticism for refusing to denounce Islamophobic statements made by MP Lee Anderson, who claimed that Mayor Sadiq Khan was under the influence of Islamists.

Mr Anderson's tenure as a Conservative MP was suspended.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer seemed to support the Prime Minister's plea for national unity in response to Mr Sunak's speech.

He stated: "The Prime Minister is right to advocate unity and to condemn the unacceptable and intimidator behaviour that we have seen recently." Citizens have a right to go about their business without intimidation, and elected representatives should be able to do their jobs and cast their votes without fear or favour," states the statement. "Defending our values and the common bonds that hold us together is an important task of leadership. “All sides have agreed on this, so we should all stand up for it."

"The British people will take no lessons from a Prime Minister and Conservative Party who have sowed the seeds of division for years," said Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Following Mr Sunak's address, pro-Palestine demonstrations are expected to continue nationwide on Saturday.

In his speech on Friday, the prime minister directly addressed the participants in the pro-Palestine demonstrations, advising them to conduct their demonstrations "with empathy" and in a nonviolent manner.

He claimed to have informed senior police officials that people anticipated the protests to be policed instead of controlled.