Workers Party of Britain candidates will stand in Bradford

Mr Galloway - who served as Respect MP for Bradford West between 2012 and 215 - won a by-election in Rochdale last week.

In his victory speech, Mr Galloway, who is founder and leader of the Workers Party of Britain, described Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as "two cheeks of the same backside and they both got well and truly spanked here in Rochdale".

The 69-year-old - who has regularly stood for election in constituencies with a high Muslim population and long campaigned for Palestinian rights - said his victory was "for Gaza" as the war in the Middle East continues.

Mr Galloway celebrates his by-election victory (Image: PA)

He said he had Workers Party of Britain colleagues poised to stand in the General Election - which must be held before January 28 next year - and there would be a "shifting of the tectonic plates in scores of parliamentary constituencies".

Mr Galloway told the Telegraph & Argus that his party had its eyes set on Bradford.

Addressing people of Bradford - which he said he "remembers fondly" - Mr Galloway said: "Be encouraged, be inspired by what we achieved in Rochdale.

"Support Workers Party candidates when we put them up in Bradford. Teach Labour a lesson, as we taught them in Rochdale.

"Don't be led astray by Labour claiming to be the party that can change Britain. 

"Support Labour and you will be voting for more of the same. More kowtowing to Israel and Washington, more involvement in wars which have nothing to do with defending us, more wokery and more identity politics, less focus on the cost of living, the NHS and workers' rights."

Addressing Bradford's politicians, he said: "Be afraid, be very afraid. The days when your Bradford seats were guaranteed are over. The days when you could ignore the intensely felt views of Bradfordians are over. The days when you could disrespect whole communities are over. We are coming for you."

He added: "People of Bradford, your chance to assert yourselves is not far away.

"Support me, support the Workers Party of Britain when you get chance."

The Telegraph & Argus asked the district's three Labour MPs - Judith Cummins, Naz Shah and Imran Hussain - and its two Tory MPs - Philip Davies and Robbie Moore - if they wanted to respond to Mr Galloway's comments.

Only Mr Davies replied, saying: "First and foremost, I want to congratulate George Galloway on a stunning by-election victory in Rochdale.

"Like him or loathe him, most of us only win elections because of the party we represent, whereas George Galloway wins elections because he is George Galloway.

"He is one of the best orators of his generation and is a hugely skilled politician which we should also acknowledge.

"I don't think I agree with him on any policy issue, and I find his views on Israel to be beyond the pale, but we should always be gracious to political opponents who win an election whatever we think about their opinions, and George is perfectly entitled to be cock-a-hoop after his win in Rochdale.

"However, his victory will not be changing my opinions on any issue."

Rishi Sunak calls George Galloway's return to Parliament 'beyond alarming'

The Israel-Gaza war featured heavily in the by-election, with Mr Galloway telling voters in a campaign leaflet: "The people of Gaza don't have a vote in this election, you do."

Labour has been divided over how to respond to the conflict - and last year several frontbenchers quit their roles in order to vote for an immediate ceasefire.

Sir Keir said Mr Galloway only won the by-election because Labour withdrew support from its own candidate in an antisemitism row.

He added: "I regret we had to withdraw our candidate, and apologise to voters in Rochdale.

"I took that decision - it was the right decision."

He promised that Labour would put forward a "first-class candidate, a unifier" to fight the seat at the General Election.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister described Mr Galloway's return to Parliament as "beyond alarming", claiming that the new MP "dismisses the horror of what happened on October 7" - a reference to the Hamas attack on Israel - and that he "glorifies Hezbollah", which the UK classes as a terrorist group.

But Mr Galloway accused Mr Sunak of "stirring up strife", saying: "Look how he demonised and disrespected the people of Rochdale by badmouthing their chosen MP."

The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was "extremely concerned" by Mr Galloway's victory, accusing him of having an "atrocious record of baiting the Jewish community".

A spokesperson for the group added: "Given his historic inflammatory rhetoric and the current situation faced by the Jewish community in this country, we are extremely concerned by how he may use the platform of the House of Commons in the remaining months of this Parliament."