Blackburn rover - Telegraph George Galloway, an adept of the electronic media, took to Twitter yesterday morning to celebrate his trouncing of the opposition in last Thursday's by-election. But, in the exhilaration of his victory, the hirsute, cigar-chomping politico seemed to forget briefly which city had elected him, tweeting that he was "shattered but happy after the Blackburn triumph." In fact, of course, "Gorgeous George," as he is sometimes known, had been elected by the voters of Bradford West. Mr Galloway is, it might be said, a forceful advocate for a number of highly questionable opinions (a view of him that could be endorsed from a range of positions across the political spectrum). But he appeals to the public because he is, at least, a colourful, memorable personality. If more politicians of the mainstream were of a similar stripe, Mr Galloway himself might not loom so large. Think, for example, of the MP who held for over 30 years the seat that Mr Galloway momentarily claimed: Barbara Castle, latterly Baroness Castle of Blackburn. That's what forthright passion, when married to something greater than self-promotion, can look like.