Galloway attacks “political show trial”
Rebel Labour MP George Galloway will hear today whether he will be expelled from the Labour Party for comments made about Britain’s role in the US-led Iraq war.
Party officials suspended the Glasgow Kelvin MP six months ago after he appeared on television attacking Tony Blair and US President George W Bush for acting “like wolves” by invading Iraq.
Yesterday, he appeared before the National Constitutional Committee, charged with bringing the party into disrepute following his interview with Abu Dhabi TV on the 28th of March.
But the hearing failed to complete its deliberations last night after taking evidence from Labour’s deputy general secretary Chris Lennie; it will resume today.
It is rumoured the Labour MP may resign his seat if he is expelled. In doing so, he could force a by-election in which he could stand against Labour as an independent.
The other option for him is to continue to take his seat in the Commons until the next election. His salary and pension entitlements would not be affected.
The outspoken anti-war MP is charged with inciting Arabs to fight British troops; encouraging British troops to disobey orders; inciting Plymouth voters to reject Labour MPs; threatening to stand as an independent against his party and supporting an anti-war candidate in Preston.
Senior Labour figures such as Tony Benn and Michael Foot (in a written defence), as well as Tony Woodley, head of the T&G union, came forward as character witnesses yesterday.
After his presentation to the Tribunal yesterday, Mr Benn said: “We need people of different opinions in the party. We have got an election coming in a couple of years and I think this will damage the party.
“There has always been a very strong commitment to peace in the Labour Party.
“Keir Hardie opposed the First World War, so did Ramsey MacDonald.”
Mr Galloway said: “I am apologising for nothing. This is a political show trial.”
“I felt sadness that the Labour leadership had put up this man to try to make a silk purse out of the ugliest sow’s ear I have ever come across in 30 years in politics.
“Every fact that could be twisted, every motive that could be distorted or invented, every twist of words that could be perpetrated for hour after hour was tried by the Labour Party deputy general secretary.”
