Respect candidate George Galloway has claimed a 'big victory' in the Bradford West by-election, ahead of the offical declaration, saying that Labour "has been hit by a tidal wave in a seat they have held for decades, in a city they have dominated for 100 years".
He said people "have felt neglected, people have felt betrayed."
Counting is still getting under way in the count, but the Respect party candidate is confident he has claimed the seat, taking votes right across the constituency.
In an interview, he said that the three big parties now had to sit up and take notice of the changes in politics demanded by people who felt let down by them.
George Galloway has just said of what he believes is a crushing victory: "We have won it in almost every area, which is the remakable thing. Our support in Manningham was 75-80% which is just unbelievable. Especially as Labour put up a Pakistani candidate precisely to win areas like that.
"And, of course, they have lost them by landslide. The pleasing thing to me is that we have shown big support all over the constituency, and even won at least 50% of the vote in some areas where people thought we wouldn't even compete."
He has pledged to field many candidates in the wards in the district elections in May.
Early indications were that Mr Galloway had polled more than 50% of the vote, with the Tories' share collapsing, taking only 13% of the vote.
Turn out for the election has just been decared as 32,905 votes, 50.92%, much higher than at first predicted.
A final count is expected at about 1.40am.
1.10: FayeFaye@FayeFaye tweeted: I don't know who I would of voted for, but as long as Galloway delivers FOR BRADFORD I don't mind
1.12 ectomorfo@ectomorfo tweeted: To all the sour-faced tweeps bad-mouthing George Galloway... this is about the people of Bradford and what THEY want 1.13 Sam Rosenthal@SamRosenthal92 tweeted: @georgegalloway congratulation on one of, if not the most sensational election results in history #Bradfordwest
1.18 Faz'Winston'Khalifa@FazWinston tweeted: What a week for Bradford. Firstly, the huge opening of the "City Park" and the UK's Tallest Fountain + now #BradfordWest 's Positive steps
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