George Galloway turfed out of Bradford West

George Galloway has been soundly beaten in Bradford West, losing to Labour by a margin of more than 11,000 votes.

Rumours had been circulating all night that he was likely to lose, but the size of the defeat took many by surprise. Galloway received 8,557 votes, compared with the winning tally of 19,977 for Labour's Naseem Shah.

Last night Galloway was reported to police by Bradford council's returning officer after he appeared to retweet an exit poll before voting was over.

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"It is against the law to discuss voting while polls are open, under section 66 of the Representation of the People's Act," the BBC reports. Galloway described the incident as a "storm in a thimble".

Galloway won the Bradford West seat in a by-election in 2012. He had previously held Bethnal Green and Bow for Respect from 2005 to 2010, and Glasgow Kelvin for Labour from 1997 to 2005.

He split from Labour in protest at the party's decision to go to war with Iraq in 2003.