The Rochdale By-Election Should Be About The Girls, not Gaza

Events in the Israel-Palestine war have dominated the conversation in the upcoming Rochdale by-election, with George Galloway predicted to become the town's next MP.
In January, Greater Manchester Police apologised for its inaction on dealing with paedophile gangs in the town, but that topic has not been discussed in any meaningful way in the run up to the vote on Thursday.
Events in the Middle East are shocking and tragic and it is important that this matter is discussed. However, it is unacceptable in somewhere like Rochdale that the abuse of children and the failures of the police and other organisations has not been the main story in this campaign. Similar to other towns and cities in the UK, the story is being hushed up as if it never happened.