Labour Fears Extremists Will Target Rochdale By-Election

There are fears the by-election in the Labour safe seat of Rochdale could be heated, with the town's recent history with child sex exploitation and Labour's position on Gaza thrown into the spotlight.

It is expected to be held in February after Labour veteran Sir Tony Lloyd died in his post after 36 years as an MP last week. 

The competition for Labour's shortlist for Rochdale was tight, with a Labour source telling PoliticsHome there has been "dozens" of applications submitted in the selection process in the week following Lloyd's death. 

Three people have made the shortlist to replace the respected Labour stalwart: Paul Waugh, a lobby journalist with the i paper;Azhar Ali, leader of the Labour group at Lancashire county council; and Nazia Rehman, a Wigan councillor. The winner will be announced later today. 

Waugh, who grew up in Rochdale, is considered to be the Labour leadership's favoured candidate - writing in the i paper he believed it was time to "cease being a spectator and start being a player" after being approached by local Labour members to make a bid for the seat. 

PoliticsHome understands Labour MP for Weaver Vale and shadow homelessness minister, Mike Amesbury, is coordinating campaigning in the seat. 

The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK are among the other parties fielding candidates in the north west constituency. George Galloway's far-left Workers Party of Britain, which includes deputy leader and former MP Chris Williamson - who was blocked from standing as a Labour candidate in the 2019 General Election by the party's National Executive Committee  - has also indicated to PoliticsHome interest in running in the constituency. 

"The Workers Party national members council has approved funding