Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:George Galloway

{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{Short description|British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = George Galloway
| honorific-suffix    = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]
| image               = File:George Galloway 2007-02-24, 02 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize           = 
| alt                 = 
| caption             = Galloway at a [[Stop the War Coalition|Stop the War]] event in February 2007
| order               = 
| office              = [[Workers Party of Britain|Leader of the Workers Party of Britain]]
| term_start          = 8 December 2019
| deputy              = {{ubl|[[Chris Williamson (politician)|Chris Williamson]]|[[Peter Ford (diplomat)|Peter Ford]]|Joti Brar|Andy Hudd}}
| predecessor         = ''Party established''
| office2             = [[Respect Party|Leader of the Respect Party]]
| term_start2         = 10 June 2013
| term_end2           = 18 August 2016
| deputy2             = Dawud Islam
| predecessor2        = [[Arshad Ali (UK politician)|Arshad Ali]]
| successor2          = ''Party dissolved''
| office3             = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]
| term_start3         = 29 February 2024
| predecessor3        = [[Tony Lloyd]]
| majority3           = 5,697 (18.4%)
| constituency3       = [[Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Rochdale]]
| term_start4         = 29 March 2012
| term_end4           = 30 March 2015
| constituency4       = [[Bradford West (UK Parliament constituency)|Bradford West]] 
| predecessor4        = [[Marsha Singh]]
| successor4          = [[Naz Shah]]
| term_start5         = 11 June 1987
| term_end5           = 12 April 2010
| predecessor5        = [[Roy Jenkins]] (Glasgow Hillhead)<br/>[[Oona King]] (Bethnal Green and Bow)
| successor5          = [[Rushanara Ali]]
| constituency5       = [[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow]] <br />(2005–2010) <br />[[Glasgow Kelvin (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Kelvin]] <br />(1997–2005) <br /> [[Glasgow Hillhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Hillhead]] <br />(1987–1997)
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1954|8|16}}
| birth_place         = [[Dundee]], Scotland
| birthname           = 
| party               = {{ubl|[[Workers Party of Britain]] (since 2019)}}
| otherparty          = {{ubl||[[All for Unity]] (2020–2022)|[[Independent politician|Independent]] (2016–2019)|[[Respect Party|Respect]] (2004–2016)|[[Independent politician|Independent Labour]] (2003)|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (1967–2003)}}
| spouse              = {{plainlist|
* {{Marriage|Elaine Fyffe|1979|1999|end=divorced}}
* {{Marriage|Amineh Abu-Zayyad|2000|2009|end=divorced}}
* {{Marriage|Rima Husseini|2005|2010|end=divorce}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13071092.george-galloway-tweets-picture-new-bride-indonesia/ | title=George Galloway tweets picture of new bride from Indonesia | date=29 August 2012 }}</ref> 
* {{Marriage|Putri Gayatri Pertiwi|31 March 2012}}
}}
| children            = 6
| website             = {{URL|https://www.georgegalloway.com}}
| signature           = George Galloway autograph.png
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=George Galloway on Scottish independence.ogg|title=George Galloway's voice|type=speech|description=Galloway on [[Scottish independence]]<br />Recorded 5 May 2019}}
}}

'''George Galloway''' (born 16 August 1954) is a British politician, broadcaster, and writer who has served as <!-- Please do not add 'the'. See MOS:JOBTITLE. --> [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Rochdale]] since the [[2024 Rochdale by-election|2024 by-election]]. He has been the leader of the [[Workers Party of Britain]] since he founded it in 2019. From 1987 to 2010, and from 2012 to 2015, Galloway served as MP for four constituencies, first for the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] and then from 2005 for the [[Respect Party]], which he led from 2013 until its dissolution in 2016.

<!-- Early life and political career -->
Galloway was born in [[Dundee|Dundee, Scotland]]. After becoming the youngest ever chair of the [[Scottish Labour|Scottish Labour Party]] in 1981, he was general secretary of the charity [[War on Want]] from 1983 until his election as MP for [[Glasgow Hillhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Hillhead]] at the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]]. After being expelled from Labour, in 2004 Galloway joined the Respect Party. He was elected as MP for [[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow]] at the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]]. After losing in neighbouring [[Poplar and Limehouse (UK Parliament constituency)|Poplar and Limehouse]] in [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]], he was re-elected at the [[2012 Bradford West by-election]]; he lost this seat at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]]. He unsuccessfully stood as an [[Independent politician|independent]] candidate in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]] and [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]]s. Galloway then founded the Workers Party of Britain and stood unsuccessfully for the party at the [[2021 Batley and Spen by-election]]. Galloway won the [[2024 Rochdale by-election]] with 39.7 per cent of the vote.

<!-- Political positions -->
Galloway describes himself as both a [[Socialism|socialist]] and [[Social conservatism|socially conservative]].<ref name="Telegraph, February 2024">{{cite news |last= Rees |first= Gwyneth |date= 24 February 2024 |title= Gaza is dominating the Rochdale by-election – and letting George Galloway outfox Labour |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/02/24/rochdale-by-election-george-galloway-israel-hamas-labour/ |work= The Daily Telegraph |access-date= 1 March 2024 |quote= "Whereas I’m very clear. As a father of six children, I’m socially conservative. I don’t want my children taught the kind of things Labour wants to teach them in schools."}}</ref> He is a staunch [[Criticism of Israel|critic of Israel]] and [[Anti-Zionism|Zionism]], and supports the [[Palestinians]] in the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]. He was involved in the ''[[Viva Palestina]]'' aid convoys to the [[Gaza Strip]]. Previously he supported [[Ba'athist Iraq]] and travelled there to meet regime officials. He caused controversy for reportedly praising [[Saddam Hussein]], which he denied. Galloway founded the [[Mariam Appeal]] to campaign against [[International sanctions against Iraq|sanctions on Iraq]]. His outspoken opposition to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] led the Labour Party to expel him for "bringing the party into disrepute".<ref>{{cite web |date=23 October 2003 |title=Galloway expelled from Labour |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/23/labour.georgegalloway |access-date=6 April 2022 |website=The Guardian }}</ref> Galloway was accused of receiving illicit payments from Iraq's regime, partly from money diverted from the [[United Nations]]' [[Oil-for-Food Program]]. He defended himself at a [[Oil-for-Food Program Hearings|2005 US Senate hearing]]. He supported [[Jeremy Corbyn]] as [[Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn|leader of the Labour Party]]. In 2016 he campaigned for the UK to [[Brexit|leave the European Union]], later supporting [[Nigel Farage]]'s [[Brexit Party]] in the [[2019 European Parliament election]]. He opposes [[Scottish independence]] and founded the [[Unionism in Scotland|British unionist]] alliance [[All for Unity]], which received 0.9 per cent of votes in the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]]. Galloway blamed the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] on the West and has been accused of spreading [[Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine#Russian themes|pro-Russian disinformation]].

Galloway hosted the [[Talkradio|TalkRadio]] show ''[[The Mother of All Talk Shows]]'' from 2006 to 2010 and from 2016 until his dismissal in 2019.  He then moved the show to [[social media]] platforms. He was a presenter on Russian [[state media]] outlet [[Russia Today]] (RT) from 2013 to 2022, and was a presenter on Iranian state media outlet [[Press TV]].
{{TOC limit}}

==Early life and career==
===Background and education===
Galloway was born in [[Dundee|Dundee, Scotland]] to a Roman Catholic family. His father, George Galloway Sr., was a Scottish [[Scottish Trades Union Congress|trade unionist]], while his mother, Sheila O'Reilly, was of Irish descent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/georgegalloway/The-rise-and-fall-and.2585112.jp|title=The rise and fall and rise again of 'Gorgeous' George|work=The Scotsman|date=3 December 2004|access-date=11 April 2010|first=Karen|last=McVeigh|location=Edinburgh}}</ref><ref name="Morley4">{{cite book|last1=Morley|first1=David|title=Gorgeous George: The Life and Adventures of George Galloway|year=2007|publisher=Politico's Publishing|isbn=978-1-84275-185-5|pages=4–6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishroots.com/Gallow1.pdf |title=The information which was supplied in advance of the investigation showed that George Galloway had been born in Dundee on 16th August 1954, and the objective was to pursue both paternal and maternal lines{{nbsp}}... |website=Scottishroots.com |access-date=11 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025725/http://www.scottishroots.com/Gallow1.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> Initially raised in [[Lochee]], Dundee, he has described himself as "born in an attic in a slum tenement in the [[Irish people in Scotland|Irish quarter]] of Dundee, which is known as Tipperary".<ref name="McSmith">{{cite news|last=McSmith|first=Andy|date=31 March 2012|title=George Galloway: The political rebel with a cause|work=The Independent|location=London, UK|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/george-galloway-the-political-rebel-with-a-cause-7604006.html|access-date=4 April 2012}}</ref> His father began as an electrician, before studying a degree to become an electromechanical engineer at [[NCR Corporation|NCR]]. After being made redundant, he retrained as a teacher.<ref name="Scotsman2003">{{cite news |date=19 May 2003 |title=Indefatigably yours |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/indefatigably-yours-1-648573 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503010749/http://www.scotsman.com/news/indefatigably-yours-1-648573 |archive-date=3 May 2012 |work=The Scotsman}}</ref> His mother was a cleaner, and then a factory worker. According to Galloway, his father was patriotic, while his mother had [[Irish nationalism|Irish nationalist]] sympathies, and was critical of perceived British pretensions in the world. He took his mother's side in arguments,<ref name="Scotsman2003" /> and has been a long-time supporter of [[Sinn Féin]] and [[United Ireland|Irish reunification]].<ref>{{cite news|last=McClements|first=Freya|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/george-galloway-says-a-lot-of-unionists-would-benefit-from-united-ireland-1.3182425|title=George Galloway says a lot of unionists would benefit from united Ireland|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=10 August 2017|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref> [[David Morley (writer)|David Morley]], his biographer, has written that people who knew both father and son have said that they had [[Marxism|Marxist]] opinions common in the local Labour Party movement of the time.<ref>Morley, p. 7</ref>

Galloway grew up in [[Charleston, Dundee]], and attended Charleston Primary and then [[Harris Academy]], in the city's [[West End, Dundee|West End]], an academically-selective and [[non-denominational]] state school, which became comprehensive in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://harrisacademy.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk/school-1/school-history/perth-road-1969-1985|title=Harris Academy - Perth Road 1969-1985|work=Harris Academy, Dundee|accessdate=3 March 2024}}</ref> Galloway played for the school football team as well as for West End United U12s, Lochee Boys Club U16s and St Columba's U18s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/news-a-media/my-youth-career/1391-george-galloway|title=George Galloway|access-date=22 February 2011|publisher=Youth Football Scotland|archive-date=5 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805231828/http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/news-a-media/my-youth-career/1391-george-galloway|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

In a 2016 ''[[New Internationalist]]'' interview, Galloway speculated that an incident of sexual abuse from a colonel, which he suffered when he was 12, caused a "lifelong fear of being gay and this led me into ostentatious, rapacious heterosexual promiscuity".<ref name="Hamdi">{{cite news|last=Hamdi|first=Omar|url=http://newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2016/02/02/george-galloway-londons-next-mayor/|title=Who is George Galloway ''really''?<!-- Italics in the source. --> Perhaps London's next Mayor?|work=New Internationalist|date=2 February 2016|access-date=2 February 2016}}</ref> According to Galloway, he grew a moustache at the age of 15, and refused to shave it off when his headmaster objected.<ref name="Adams">{{cite news|last=Adams|first=Tim|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/apr/25/interviews.iraq|title='I've committed many sins'|work=The Observer|date=25 April 2004}}</ref> He decided, at the age of 18, never to drink alcohol; the reason was originally derived from comments by his father,<ref>{{cite news|last=Patterson|first=Sylvia|url=http://www.bigissue.com/features/interviews/909/george-galloway-im-lover-and-fighter|title=George Galloway: 'I'm a lover and a fighter'|work=The Big Issue|date=15 April 2012|access-date=27 August 2014|archive-date=27 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827120153/http://www.bigissue.com/features/interviews/909/george-galloway-im-lover-and-fighter|url-status=dead}}</ref> and he has described alcohol as having a "very deleterious effect on people".<ref>{{cite news|last=Ross|first=Peter|url=http://www.sundayherald.com/51112|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051207041740/http://www.sundayherald.com/51112|archive-date=7 December 2005|title=I'd like a peaceful life like anyone else but undoubtedly I rise to the occasion|work=[[Sunday Herald]]|date=4 August 2009|access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/georgegalloway/Meet-the-cat-that-got.2818619.jp|title=Meet the cat that got the cream|last=Smith|first=Aidan|date=15 October 2006|work=The Scotsman|access-date=29 September 2010|location=Edinburgh}}</ref>

===Labour Party organiser===
Galloway joined the [[Labour Party Young Socialists]] aged 13, having falsely claimed to have been 15, and was still a teenager when he became secretary of the Dundee Labour Party.<ref name="McSmith" /><ref name="McCrystal">{{cite news|last=McCrystal|first=Cal|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/profile-nobodys-hero-but-his-own-brash-stalinist-or-frustrated-peoples-champion-cal-mccrystal-on-labours-loose-cannon-george-galloway-1408855.html|title=Profile: Nobody's hero but his own: Brash Stalinist or frustrated people's champion?|work=The Independent on Sunday|date=23 January 1994}}</ref>

Galloway became vice-chairman of the Labour Party in the City of Dundee and a member of the [[Scottish Executive Committee]] in 1975. On 5 May 1977, he contested his first election campaign in the Scottish district elections, but failed to hold the safe Labour Gillburn ward in Dundee, being defeated by the [[Independent politician|independent]] Bunty Turley.<ref name="MorleySH07">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/george-and-his-dragons-1.836588|title=George And His Dragons|work=Sunday Herald|access-date=21 August 2008|first=David|last=Morley|date=30 September 2007}}; Morley ''Gorgeous George'', pp. 30–32</ref> He became the secretary organiser of the Dundee Labour Party in 1977, and at 26, was the youngest ever chairman of the [[Scottish Labour Party]] in March 1981,<ref>Morley, p. 44-5, 70</ref> a post he held for a year, after holding the vice-chairman post over the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Faux|first=Ronald|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/article/1980-03-10/2/2.html|title=Labour Left Make Gains at Scottish Party Conference|work=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=10 March 1980|access-date=1 May 2016|page=2}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

After a trip to [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during 1977, Galloway became a supporter of [[State of Palestine|Palestine]], stating during his libel case against ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' in 2004 that "barely a week after my return I made a pledge, in the Tavern Bar in Dundee's Hawkhill District, to devote the rest of my life to the Palestinian and Arab cause."<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=David|author-link1=David Smith (journalist)|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/nov/21/iraq.pressandpublishing |title=The Observer Profile: George Galloway|work=[[The Observer]]|date=21 November 2004|access-date=4 April 2012}}</ref> He supported [[Dundee City Council]] when it flew the [[Palestinian flag]] over the City Chambers building, and was involved in the [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinning]] of Dundee with the Palestinian [[West Bank]] town of [[Nablus]] in 1980.<ref name="Scott">{{cite news|last=Scott|first=Kirsty|author2=MacAskill, Ewen|date=23 April 2003|title=Special Reports: Two views of George: all heart or a pain in the neck|work=The Guardian|location=London, UK|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/apr/23/uk.iraq4|access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref><ref name="nabdun">{{cite news|title=George Galloway|work=Dundee Courier and Advertiser|date=24 April 1981}}</ref>

In late 1981, Galloway was interviewed for the ''Scottish Marxist'', in which Galloway supported the affiliation of the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] (CPGB) to the Labour Party, in the same way as the [[Fabian Society]] does.<ref name="Hamilton">{{cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Alan|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/article/1981-12-14/8/4.html|title=The Man Who Spreads the Tony Benn Gospel in Scotland|quote=He [Galloway] argued that there was an intellectual vacuum in theoretical party thinking which was in danger of being filled by [[Trotskyists]] and which would be much better filled by Communists.|work=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=14 December 1981|access-date=1 May 2016|page=8}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Believing that a deficiency in political theory was being filled by the [[Entryism|entryist]] infiltration of the party by the [[Trotskyism|Trotskyists]] (such as the [[Militant tendency]]), he thought the problem was better resolved by communist thinking from members of the CPGB.<ref name="Hamilton" /><ref name="Morley74">Morley, p.74-75</ref> (He was later opposed to the expulsion of members of Militant.<ref name="McCrystal" />)

In response, [[Denis Healey]], [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]], tried and failed to remove Galloway from the list of [[prospective parliamentary candidate]]s. Healey lost his motion by 13 votes to five.<ref>{{cite news|last=Parkhouse|first=Geoffrey|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19811210&id=asBAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5368,1714444|title=Benn to Fight Purge on Left|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Glasgow Herald]]|date=10 December 1981|page=1}}</ref> Galloway once quipped that, to overcome a £1.5&nbsp;million deficit which had arisen in Dundee's city budget, he, [[Ernie Ross]], and leading councillors should be placed in the [[stocks]] in the city square: "We would allow people to throw buckets of water over us at 20p a time."<ref name="dundee-bucket">{{cite news|title=Remarkable idea to raise funds for city|work=Dundee Courier and Advertiser|date=19 August 1981|page=3}}</ref>

In 1983, Galloway attempted to stand for the safe Labour seat of [[Rhondda (UK Parliament constituency)|Rhondda]] after the Welsh [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] and the [[National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain)|National Union of Miners]] had both nominated him to succeed [[Alec Jones]], who had died.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCallum|first=Andrew|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19830412&id=G8RAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3422,1882560&hl=en|title=Rhondda Puts Call Out for Galloway|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Glasgow Herald]]|date=12 April 1983|access-date=25 December 2015}}</ref> He hoped to be selected in the newly created seat of [[Dunfermline East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dunfermline East]], where no incumbent was standing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19830419&id=IcRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4111,3258125&hl=en|title=MP Opens Way for Tough Fight|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Glasgow Herald]]|date=19 April 1983|access-date=28 July 2016|page=3}}</ref> Galloway failed to be selected for either seat, with Rhondda selecting [[Allan Rogers]], and Dunfermline East selecting future [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] and later Prime Minister, [[Gordon Brown]].

Standing as a candidate for a place on the Labour Party [[National Executive Committee of the Labour Party|National Executive Committee]] in 1986, in a large field of 18 candidates, Galloway finished in 16th place.<ref>Morley, p. 141</ref>

===War on Want===
From November 1983 to 1987, Galloway was the general secretary of [[War on Want]], a British charity campaigning against poverty worldwide. In this post he travelled widely, and wrote eye-witness accounts of the famine in [[Eritrea]] in 1985 which were published in ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' and ''The Spectator''.<ref name="BBC Const Guide">'[[Glasgow]] Hillhead' (PA number 263) in "General Election Constituency Guide", [[BBC]] Data, 1987.</ref> His deputy at the charity, Simon Stocker, recalled: "If you went into a fight with George, you knew you would never walk out with a win."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ungoed-Thomas|first1=Jon|last2=Walsh|first2=Gareth|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article229147.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408174441/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article229147.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 April 2016|title=Gorgeous George's life of scrapes|work=The Sunday Times|location=London, UK|date=27 April 2003|access-date=29 March 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

On 28 October 1986, the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'', in a front-page story by [[Alastair Campbell]], claimed Galloway had spent £20,000 in expenses and had been "enjoying a life of luxury".<ref name="Morley129">Morley, pp. 129–30</ref><ref name="wow-living">{{cite news|date=23 April 2003|last1=Wilson|first1=Jamie|last2=Bowcott|first2=Owen|last3=Dodd|first3=Vikram|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/apr/24/uk.labour1|title=Charity, fundraiser or political campaign?|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref> An internal investigation,<ref name="Morley129" /> and later, an independent auditor, both cleared him of the accusation of any misuse of funds,<ref name="Paterson">{{cite news|last=Paterson|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Paterson|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/1428223/Leadership-of-War-on-Want-marked-by-turbulence-and-tension.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/1428223/Leadership-of-War-on-Want-marked-by-turbulence-and-tension.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Leadership of War on Want marked by turbulence and tension|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=23 April 2003|access-date=21 August 2008|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> although he did repay £1,720 in contested expenses.<ref name="Paterson" /> The official history of War on Want comments about Galloway that "even though the problems were not all of his own making, his way of dealing with them heightened tensions".<ref name="Paterson" />

==MP for Glasgow Hillhead and Kelvin (1987–2005)==
At the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]], Galloway was elected as the MP for [[Glasgow Hillhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Hillhead]] gaining the seat for [[Scottish Labour|Labour]] from the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|SDP]] defeating [[Roy Jenkins]] with a majority of 3,251 votes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge87/i09.htm|title=UK General Election results June 1987|website=Political Resources|access-date=31 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172132/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge87/i09.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although known for his left-wing political views, Galloway was never a member of the [[Socialist Campaign Group|Campaign Group]]<!-- name changed to Socialist Campaign Group later -->.<ref name="Scotsman2003" />

In September 1987, Galloway was "cornered by a journalist into admitting his adulterous relationship with a woman" during the 1986 War on Want conference on the Greek island of [[Mykonos]].<ref name="MorleySH07" /> When asked about the rumours, Galloway replied:<blockquote>"I travelled to, and spent time in, Greece with lots of people, many of whom were women, some of whom were known carnally to me. I actually had sexual intercourse with some of the people in Greece. And if the British public and BBC Scotland think that's of interest they are welcome to broadcast it".<ref name="BBCa">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17558313|title=Profile: George Galloway|work=BBC News|access-date=25 May 2012|date=30 March 2012}}</ref></blockquote>

As a result, Galloway made front-page headlines in the [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid press]] at the time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maclean|first=Ruth|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gorgeous-george-the-survivor-bounces-back-once-more-952pqxqdlr5|title=Gorgeous George the survivor bounces back once more|work=The Times|date=30 March 2012|access-date=11 February 2018}} {{subscription required}}</ref> He and  his first wife separated that year.<ref name="Davis">{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Anna|last2=Razaq|first2=Rashid|last3=Moore-Bridger|first3=Benedict|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/why-galloway-has-been-up-all-night-after-marrying-his-fourth-wife-27-7614932.html|title=Why Galloway has been up all night after marrying his fourth wife, 27|work=London Evening Standard|date=3 April 2012|access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref>  In February 1988, the executive committee of his [[constituency Labour Party]] passed a [[vote of no confidence]] in him by 15 to 8.<ref name="BBCa" /><ref name="Morley175">Morley, p. 175</ref> The constituency's general management committee voted 54-to-44 in favour of the motion a fortnight later on 22 February, although just three of the 25 members in the trade union section supported it.<ref name="Morley175" />

Galloway gained re-selection when challenged by [[Trish Godman]] (wife of fellow MP [[Norman Godman]]) in June 1989, but failed to get a majority of the electoral college on the first ballot. This was the worst result for any sitting Labour MP who was reselected, but Galloway gained 62% in total in the final vote. Galloway assured his party there would be a "summer of peace and reconciliation" in his acceptance speech, but this did not happen. Many members of the party who had supported Godman reportedly refused to work for Galloway in the next election, including [[Johann Lamont]], who later became [[Leader of the Scottish Labour Party]] in 2011.<ref>Morley, p. 283</ref> The following August, 13 of the 26 members of the constituency party's executive committee resigned,<ref name="fnalmanac">{{cite book|last1=Waller|first1=Robert|last2=Criddle|first2=Byron|title=The Almanac of British Politics|location=London|publisher=Routledge|edition=Fourth|year=1991|isbn=0-415-00508-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/almanacofbritish0000wall}}</ref> including Lamont. According to her, Galloway "has done nothing to build bridges with the Members of the Executive [Committee of the Constituency Labour Party] who opposed his selection." She told a journalist from ''The Guardian'': "The quarrel we have is all about accountability, and democracy{{nbsp}}... working in harmony, rather than any personal matters."<ref>Morley, p.284</ref>

The Labour Party [[1992 Labour Party leadership election|leadership election]] in 1992 saw Galloway voting for the eventually successful candidates, [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]] for leader and [[Margaret Beckett]] as deputy leader. In 1994, after Smith died, Galloway declined to cast a vote in the [[1994 Labour Party leadership election|leadership election]] (one of only three MPs to do so). In a debate with the leader of the [[Scottish National Party]], [[Alex Salmond]], Galloway responded to one of Salmond's jibes against Labour by declaring "I don't give a fuck what Tony Blair thinks".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Waller|first1=Robert|last2=Criddle|first2=Byron|title=The Almanac of British Politics|location=London|publisher=Routledge|edition=Fifth|year=1996|isbn=0-415-11805-0}}</ref>

In 1997, Galloway's Glasgow Hillhead constituency was abolished and, although facing a challenge for the Labour nomination as the candidate for [[Glasgow Kelvin (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Kelvin]] at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], Galloway defeated Shiona Waldron. He was unchallenged for the nomination for the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]]. He was elected with majorities of 16,643 and 12,014 votes respectively. During the period he was Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin, from 1997 to 2003, he voted against the [[Whip (politics)|whip]] 32 times, five votes out of 665 (0.8%) in the 1997–2001 parliament and the majority (27 votes out of 209 or 12.9%) in the period from the 2001 election until his expulsion from the Labour Party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip/member/40690&showall=yes#divisions|title=Voting Record – George Galloway MP, Bradford West (10218)|website=The Public Whip|access-date=21 March 2017}}</ref> He was one of several politicians arrested in February 2001 during a protest at the [[HMNB Clyde|Faslane nuclear base]] in Scotland, which led to him being convicted of a [[breach of the peace]] and fined £180.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1166150.stm|title=Politicians arrested at nuclear protest|work=BBC News|date=12 February 2001|access-date=12 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2120063.stm|title=Labour MP fined over Faslane demo|work=BBC News|date=10 July 2002|access-date=4 September 2016}}</ref>

===Iraq and Saddam Hussein===
Writing for ''[[The Observer]]'' in April 2003, [[David Aaronovitch]] speculated that Galloway's support for [[Ba'athist Iraq]] and [[Saddam Hussein]] was based on "the belief that my enemy's enemy is my friend. Or, in the context of the modern world, any anti-American will do. When Iraq stopped being a friend of the West it became a friend of George's."<ref name="Aaronovitch270403">{{cite news|last=Aaronovitch|first=David|date=27 April 2003|title=Lies and the Left|work=The Observer|location=London, UK|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/apr/27/labour.uk|access-date=22 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="Hitchens2005" /> According to [[Tam Dalyell]], Galloway had been the "only one MP that I can recollect making speeches about human rights in Iraq" in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].<ref name="Scott" />

Galloway opposed the [[Gulf War|1991 Gulf War]] and was critical of the effect that the [[Iraq sanctions|subsequent sanctions]] had on the people of Iraq.

====Meeting with Saddam Hussein in 1994====
In January 1994, Galloway faced some of his strongest criticism for a Middle Eastern trip, during which he met [[Saddam Hussein]]. At his meeting with the Iraqi dictator, Galloway told Saddam Hussein:<blockquote>"Your excellency, Mr President, I greet you in the name of the many thousands of people in Britain who stood against the tide and opposed [[Gulf War|the war]] ... I greet you too in the name of the Palestinian people ... I thought the president would appreciate knowing that even today, three years after the war, I still meet families who are calling their newborn sons Saddam ... Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability. And I want you to know that we are with you until victory, until victory, until Jerusalem (''hatta al-nasr, hatta al-nasr, hatta al-Quds'')".<ref>The entire speech is contained in David Morley ''Gorgeous George: The Life and Adventures of George Galloway'', London: Politicos, 2007, pp. 210–211</ref><ref name="BBC220403">{{cite news|work=BBC News|title=Profile of George Galloway|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2966199.stm|access-date=22 June 2011|date=22 April 2003}}</ref></blockquote>

Galloway was accused of having "fawned over" Saddam, which he denied.<ref>{{cite news |title=Galloway denies Saddam 'fawning' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4016803.stm |work=BBC News |date=16 November 2004}}</ref> Labour leader John Smith said: "I deeply deplore the foolish statement made in Iraq by Mr. George Galloway. In no way did he speak for the Labour Party and I wholly reject his comments".<ref>{{cite news|last=McIntyre|first=Donald|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-career-threatened-by-iraqi-tv-appearance-friendly-exchange-with-saddam-infuriates-labour-leadership-1401155.html|title=MP's career threatened by Iraqi TV appearance: Friendly exchange with Saddam infuriates Labour leadership|work=The Independent|date=20 January 1994}}</ref> Galloway said that he was saluting the Iraqi people, rather than Saddam Hussein,<ref name="Hattenstone">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/sep/16/iraq.interviews|access-date=21 August 2008|title=Saddam and me|work=The Guardian |last=Hattenstone|first=Simon|date=16 September 2002|location=London, UK}}</ref> and Galloway's friend [[Anas Altikriti]] claimed that this is how it was translated for Saddam.<ref name="MorleySH07" /> Shortly after his return, Galloway was given a "severe reprimand" by the Labour Chief Whip, [[Derek Foster, Baron Foster of Bishop Auckland|Derek Foster]], for his unauthorised trip to Iraq. The MP apologised for his conduct and undertook to follow future instruction from the whips.<ref>{{cite news|last=Braid|first=Mary|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-gives-galloway-a-final-warning-1408309.html|title=Labour gives Galloway a 'final warning'|work=The Independent|date=21 January 1994}}</ref>

For his meeting with Saddam, Galloway was dubbed the "MP for [[Baghdad]] North".<ref name="Fletcher060810">{{cite news|last=Fletcher|first=Martin|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article2676015.ece|title=Galloway films interview with 'moderate' President|work=The Times|date=6 August 2010|access-date=26 December 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref> When he spoke before the [[U.S. Senate]] on 17 May 2005, Galloway said that he had "met Saddam Hussein exactly the same number of times as [[Donald Rumsfeld]] met him," but "The difference is Donald Rumsfeld met him to sell him guns ... I met him to try to bring about an end to sanctions, suffering and war".<ref>{{cite news|title=Galloway accuses senators over Iraq oil claims|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1490168/Galloway-accuses-senators-over-Iraq-oil-claims.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1490168/Galloway-accuses-senators-over-Iraq-oil-claims.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=16 August 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=17 May 2005|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Galloway takes on US oil accusers|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4556113.stm|access-date=16 August 2014|work=BBC News|date=17 May 2005}}</ref>

====The Mariam Appeal====
In 1998, Galloway founded the [[Mariam Appeal]] which was intended, according to its website's welcome page in 1999, "to campaign against sanctions on Iraq which are having disastrous effects on the ordinary people of Iraq".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xq_tdYOz_LEC&pg=PA60|title=Conduct of Mr George Galloway: sixth report, session 2006–07, Vol. I: Report and appendices|location=London|publisher=The Stationery Office|year=2007|page=60|isbn=9780215035226}}</ref> The campaign was named after Mariam Hamza, a child flown by the fund from Iraq to Britain to receive treatment for [[leukaemia]]. The intention was to raise awareness of the suffering and death of hundreds of thousands of other Iraqi children, due to poor health conditions and lack of suitable medicines and facilities, and to campaign for the lifting of the [[Iraq sanctions]] that many maintained were responsible for that situation. In 1999, Galloway was criticised for spending Christmas in Iraq with [[Tariq Aziz]], who was Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister at the time. In a 17 May 2005 hearing of the [[United States Senate]] Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Galloway stated that he had many meetings with Aziz, and characterised their relationship as friendly.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|url=http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/pdf/109hrg/21438.pdf|access-date=4 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814081031/http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/pdf/109hrg/21438.pdf|archive-date=14 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> In all, he has admitted to more than 10 meetings with Aziz.<ref name="Hitchens2005" />

During the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], the fund received scrutiny after a complaint that Galloway used some donated money to pay for his travel expenses.<ref>{{cite news|title=Galloway cleared on appeals fund|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3847287.stm|access-date=12 October 2006|work=BBC News|date=28 June 2004}}</ref> He responded by stating that the expenses were incurred in his capacity as the appeal's chairman. Although the Mariam Appeal was never a registered charity and never intended to be such, it was investigated by the [[Charity Commission]]. The report of this year-long inquiry, published in June 2004,<ref>{{cite web|title=The Mariam Appeal|url=http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/investigations/inquiryreports/mariam2.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051229051638/http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/investigations/inquiryreports/mariam2.asp|archive-date=29 December 2005|access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref> found that the Mariam Appeal was undertaking charitable work (and so ought to have registered with the commission), but did not substantiate allegations that any funds had been misused. It emerged some years later that Galloway had appealed in a letter dated 24 April 2003 to [[Peter Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith|Lord Goldsmith]], the Attorney-General, to stop the investigation into the Mariam Appeal. According to a report in ''[[The Times]]'', after the letter was released under the [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information Act]], Galloway falsely asserted that the appeal "received no money from Iraq".<ref>{{cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Dominic|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article4419853.ece|title=My charity did not get Iraq cash, Galloway wrongly told law chief|work=The Times|location=London|date=23 April 2015|access-date=29 March 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

A further Charity Commission Report published on 7 June 2007 found that the appeal had received funds from [[Fawaz Zureikat]] that originated from the [[Oil-for-Food Programme]], and concluded that:

{{blockquote|Although Mr Galloway, Mr Halford and Mr Al-Mukhtar have confirmed that they were unaware of the source of Mr Zureikat's donations, the Commission has concluded that the charity trustees should have made further enquiries when accepting such large single and cumulative donations to satisfy themselves as to their origin and legitimacy. The Commission's conclusion is that the charity trustees did not properly discharge their duty of care as trustees to the Appeal in respect of these donations{{nbsp}}... The Commission is also concerned, having considered the totality of the evidence before it, that Mr Galloway may also have known of the connection between the Appeal and the Programme.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kennedy|first1=Dominic|last2=Bone|first2=James|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article2023349.ece|title=Galloway 'may have known Saddam was funding Iraq appeal'|work=The Times|location=London, UK|date=8 June 2007|access-date=29 March 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref>}}

Galloway, in response, stated: "I've always disputed the Commission's retrospective view that a campaign to win a change in national and international policy – a political campaign – was, in fact, a charity".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=1469|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922140207/http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=1469|archive-date=22 September 2007|date=8 June 2007|access-date=21 August 2008|title=Galloway reaction to Charity Commission report into Mariam Appeal}}</ref>

====Iraq War and Labour Party expulsion====
[[File:George Galloway addresses the 2003 Stop The War march (30873268).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|George Galloway addressing the [[15 February 2003 anti-war protests]] in London.]]
Galloway became the vice-president of the [[Stop the War Coalition]] in 2001. Actively involved, he often delivered speeches from StWC platforms at anti-war demonstrations. After permission for a rally in [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] during the international [[15 February 2003, anti-war protests#United Kingdom|anti-war protests on 15 February 2003]] was initially refused, Galloway said the government had a choice between "half a million people at the rally or half a million people in a riot".<ref>{{cite news|last=Oliver|first=Mark|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jan/29/politics.antiwar|title=Galloway condemns government ban on park peace protest|work=The Guardian|date=29 January 2003|access-date=13 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Peek|first=Laura|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article1956491.ece|title=Allow rally or face a riot, says MP|work=The Times|location=London|date=30 January 2003|access-date=13 December 2015}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

In ''I'm Not the Only One'', Galloway wrote:

{{cquote|"The only war that can be fought against a superpower is a war of movement. I brought Tariq Aziz all the writings of Che Guevara and <!-- As rendered in the original. -->Mao Tse Tung on the arts of revolutionary war and he had them translated into Arabic. Fight a war of movement, take the uniforms off, swim among the Iraqi people and whatever their views on the regime, they will undoubtedly provide deep aquifers of support for a patriotic resistance".<ref>{{cite book|last=Galloway|first=George|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-lkiyGpFhCwC&pg=PT228|title=I'm Not the Only One|location=London|publisher=Allen Lane|orig-year=2004|year=2005<!-- Quote is taken from the 2005 edition; the original is known to differ in places (see the other references to this book in this article), and may do so in this passage as well. -->|pages=228–29|isbn=9780141019390}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=March 2024}}}}

Galloway said in a 28 March 2003 interview with [[Abu Dhabi TV]]:<blockquote>"Iraq is fighting for all the Arabs. Why don't the Arabs do something for the Iraqis? Where are the Arab armies? ...  They [Tony Blair and George Bush] have lied to the [[Royal Air Force|British Air Force]] and [[Royal Navy|Navy]], when they said the battle of Iraq would be very quick and easy. They attacked Iraq like wolves. They attacked civilians. They encountered resistance from Iraqi forces and Iraqi people who are defending their dignity, religion and country ...  It is better for Blair and Bush to stop this crime and this catastrophe. ... The best thing British troops can do is to refuse to obey illegal orders".<ref>{{cite news |title=Galloway accuses PM of Iraq 'lies' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/apr/01/uk.iraq |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=1 April 2003}}</ref><ref name="Tempest2003">{{cite news|last=Tempest|first=Matthew|date=23 October 2003|title=Galloway expelled from Labour|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/23/labour.georgegalloway}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2923849.stm|title=Galloway: I'll fight expulsion|work=BBC News|date=7 April 2003|access-date=18 September 2006}}</ref></blockquote>

Labour leader Tony Blair said: "His comments were disgraceful and wrong. The National Executive will deal with it".<ref>{{cite news|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1444945/How-attack-on-wolves-caught-up-with-George-Galloway.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1444945/How-attack-on-wolves-caught-up-with-George-Galloway.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=How attack on 'wolves' caught up with George Galloway|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 October 2003}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Labour MP [[Tam Dalyell]] commented in Galloway's defence: "I think he is a deeply serious, committed politician and a man of great sincerity about the causes he takes up."<ref name="Scott" /> On 6 May 2003, [[David Triesman, Baron Triesman|David Triesman]], then general secretary of the Labour Party, suspended Galloway from holding office in the party<ref>{{cite news|last=Wintour|first=Patrick|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/07/pressandpublishing.labour|title=Galloway suspended by Labour|work=The Guardian|date=7 May 2003}}</ref> pending a hearing on charges that he had violated the party's constitution by "bringing the Labour Party into disrepute through behaviour that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the Party."<ref name="BBC060503">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3003825.stm|title=Labour suspends Galloway|work=BBC News|date=6 May 2003}}</ref> Galloway said he stood by every word of the Abu Dhabi interview.<ref name="BBC060503" />

The [[National Constitutional Committee]], responsible for disciplinary matters in the Labour Party, held a hearing on 22 October 2003 to consider the charges, taking evidence from Galloway himself, from other party witnesses, viewing media interviews, and hearing character testimony from former cabinet minister [[Tony Benn]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Tempest|first=Matthew|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/22/iraq.iraq|title=Tony Benn defends Galloway to party|work=The Guardian|date=22 October 2003}}</ref> among others. The following day, the committee unanimously found Galloway guilty of four of the five charges: inciting Arabs to fight British troops, inciting British troops to defy orders, inciting voters to reject Labour MPs, and threatening to stand against Labour. Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party.<ref name="Tempest2003" /><ref name="BBCexp">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3205889.stm|title= Galloway expelled by Labour|work=BBC News|date=24 October 2003|access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Sparrow241003">{{cite news|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1444947/Labour-expels-Galloway.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1444947/Labour-expels-Galloway.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Labour expels Galloway|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 October 2003}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Galloway said after his expulsion: "This was a politically motivated [[kangaroo court]] whose verdict had been written in advance in the best tradition of political show trials".<ref name="BBCexp" /> He claimed that other MPs who opposed the war, such as [[Bob Marshall Andrews]] and [[Glenda Jackson]], would soon be expelled, but no other MP was expelled from the Labour Party for opposing the Iraq War.<ref name="Tempest2003" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Barnett|first=Adam|url=http://leftfootforward.org/2015/11/george-galloway-was-not-expelled-from-labour-for-opposing-the-iraq-war|title=George Galloway was not expelled from Labour for opposing the Iraq war|work=Left Foot Forward|date=5 November 2015|access-date=13 November 2015}}</ref> [[Ian McCartney]], Labour Party chairman at the time, said Galloway was the only Labour MP who "incited foreign forces to rise up against British troops".<ref>Morley, p. 270</ref> Tony Benn questioned why Galloway strove to remain in the Labour Party despite calling its leadership a "blood-splattered, lying, crooked group of war criminals". Benn added, "It put me off George Galloway in a fairly fundamental way".<ref>{{cite book|last=Benn|first=Tony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAOYBNVimxMC&pg=PT258|title=More Time For Politics, Diaries 2001–2007|location=London|publisher=Hutchinson|year=2007|page=185<!-- page in book, not the web source -->|isbn=9781409063209}}</ref>

In 2005, Galloway called President [[George W. Bush]] the world's "biggest terrorist".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/aug/05/uksecurity.terrorism|title=Galloway says Blair and Bush 'have blood on their hands'|date=5 August 2005|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

===Oil-for-Food profiting accusations===
[[File:George Galloway no2id 29.6.05 (3099288606).jpg|thumb|upright|George Galloway speaking in September 2005]]
On 22 April 2003, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published news articles and comment describing documents found by its reporter [[David Blair (journalist)|David Blair]] in the ruins of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. The documents purported to be records of meetings between Galloway and Iraqi intelligence agents, and they stated that he had received £375,000 per year from the proceeds of the [[United Nations]] (UN) [[Oil-for-Food Programme]]. Galloway denied the claims and pointed to the nature of the discovery within an unguarded, bombed-out building as being questionable. He successfully sued the newspaper for libel ([[#Daily Telegraph libel case|see below]]).<ref name=judgement>{{cite journal|url=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2004/2786.html|title=In the High Court of Justice Queen's Bench Division Between: George Galloway MP and Telegraph Group Limited|id=Neutral Citation Number: [2004] EWHC 2786 (QB)/Case No: H003X02026|author=Mr Justice Eady|publisher=Royal Courts of Justice|date=2 December 2004|access-date=24 April 2011}}</ref>

[[The Christian Science Monitor|''The Christian Science Monitor'']] also published a story on 25 April 2003, stating that it had documentary evidence that Galloway had received "more than ten million dollars" from the Iraqi government. However, on 20 June 2003, the ''Monitor'' reported that its own investigation had concluded that the documents were sophisticated forgeries.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Faye|last1=Bowers|last2=Prusher|first2=Ilene R|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0620/p01s03-woiq.html|title=Galloway papers deemed forgeries|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=20 June 2003|access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref>

In January 2004, it was reported that documents from Iraq's oil ministry showed that Galloway's [[Mariam Appeal]] received money from businessmen who had had allegedly illicitly siphoned profits from the UN oil-for-food program.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leigh |first1=David |last2=Pallister |first2=David |title=Iraq oil cash funded MPs' campaigns |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/feb/17/oil.iraq1 |website=The Guardian |access-date=6 March 2024 |date=17 February 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://arabic-media.com/newspapers/iraq/almadapaper.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305233053/http://arabic-media.com/newspapers/iraq/almadapaper.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2007|title=arabicmedia.com|publisher=arabic-media.com|date=4 March 2007|access-date=4 April 2012}}</ref> Galloway said that money had been paid into the Mariam Appeal by Iraqi businessmen who had profited from the UN-run programme. He stated he had not benefited personally and that there was nothing illicit about the transaction:

<blockquote>It is hard to see what is dishonourable, let alone "illicit", about Arab nationalist businessmen donating some of the profits they made from legitimate UN-controlled business with Iraq to anti-sanctions campaigns, as opposed to, say, keeping their profits for themselves. It's equally difficult to understand why ''The Guardian'' should put seven of its finest journalists to work roping Tam Dalyell and Albert Reynolds into the rightwing witch-hunt against me, particularly on the basis of documents that may have been faked or doctored in the forgery capital of the world.<ref>{{cite web |date=2004-02-18 |title=Letters: Legitimate funding |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/feb/18/iraq.iraq |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=The Guardian }}</ref></blockquote>

In May 2005, before the reports by the US Senate and the UN had been published, ''The Guardian'' reporter David Pallister wrote that "despite all the investigations in the Oil-for-Food Programme, no one has ever produced any evidence that Iraqi oil money ended up in Mr Galloway's pocket".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pallister |first1=David |title=Allegations against Galloway rehash libel awards claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/may/13/pressandpublishing.iraq |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=13 May 2005 }}</ref>

====US Senate====
=====Senate allegations=====
In May 2005, a [[United States Senate]] committee report<ref>{{cite news|title=Report on oil allocations granted to Charles Pasqua & George Galloway|date=12 May 2005|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_05_05_psi_report.pdf|access-date=15 December 2005|work=US Senate}}</ref> accused Galloway and others of receiving, from Saddam's regime, the right to buy oil under the UN's Oil-for-Food Programme. The report was issued by the [[Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations|US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]], chaired by Senator [[Norm Coleman]], a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] from [[Minnesota]].

Coleman's committee said that Galloway received oil allocations worth {{convert|20|Moilbbl|m3}} from 2000 to 2003. The allegations against Galloway, had been made before, including in an October report by US arms inspector [[Charles Duelfer]], as well as in the various purported documents described earlier in this section.

=====Senate hearing (17 May 2005)=====
{{further|Oil-for-Food Program Hearings}}
{{external media
| float = right
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnoST3eQm0k UK politician faces questions from senators] (Galloway testifies before the Senate permanent subcommittee, 17 May 2005), from the [[Associated Press]]<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnoST3eQm0k |title=UK politician faces questions from senators |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |via=[[Youtube]] |type=video |date=21 July 2015 |orig-date=17 May 2005 |access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref>
}}
On 17 May 2005, the committee held a hearing on allegations that Galloway received illicit payments from Saddam's regime through its abuse of the Oil-for-Food Program. Attending Galloway's oral testimony and questioning him were two of the 13 committee members: the chair (Coleman) and the ranking [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] ([[Carl Levin]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hsgac.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=232|title=Full Realvideo and Transcripts of SubCommittee 'Galloway' Hearing|publisher=Hsgac.senate.gov|access-date=9 January 2010|archive-date=2 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302163225/http://hsgac.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=232|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Jeffrey|first=Simon|date=17 May 2005|title=Galloway defends himself at US Senate|work=The Guardian|location=London, UK|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/17/iraq.usa|access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref>

On arriving in the US, Galloway told Reuters, "I have no expectation of justice from a group of [[Christian fundamentalist]] and [[Zionist]] activists."<ref>{{cite news|title=UK's Galloway arrives in US to clear name on Iraq| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10125918|access-date=16 August 2014|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|location=Auckland, NZ|date=17 May 2005}}</ref> He described Coleman as a "pro-war, [[neocon]] hawk and the [[lickspittle]] of George W. Bush," who, he said, sought vengeance against anyone who did not support the war in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|title=Accused British Official Slams the U.S. on Iraq|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2005/may/18/world/fg-oil18|access-date=16 August 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=18 May 2005|first1=Maggie|last1=Farley|first2=Johanna|last2=Neuman}}</ref>

In his testimony, Galloway made the following statements in response to the allegations against him:

{{cquote|Senator, I am not now, nor have I ever been, an oil trader—and neither has anyone on my behalf. I have never seen a barrel of oil, owned one, bought one, sold one—and neither has anyone on my behalf. Now I know that standards have slipped in the last few years in Washington, but for a lawyer you are remarkably cavalier with any idea of justice. I am here today but last week you already found me guilty. You traduced my name around the world without ever having asked me a single question, without ever having contacted me, without ever having written to me or telephoned me, without any attempt to contact me whatsoever, and you call that justice.<ref>{{cite news|title=Galloway v the US Senate: transcript of statement|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article523583.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604010802/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article523583.ece|archive-date=4 June 2011|access-date=15 December 2005|work=The Times|location=London, UK|date=18 May 2005|first1=Anushka|last1=Asthana|first2=Jill|last2=Sherman}} {{subscription required}}</ref>}}

Galloway countered the charges by claiming they were politically motivated and a "smokescreen". He accused Coleman and other pro-war politicians of covering up the "theft of billions of dollars of Iraq's wealth". He claimed this happened "on your watch" under the post-invasion [[Coalition Provisional Authority]], and was committed by "[[Halliburton]] and other American corporations{{nbsp}}... with the connivance of your own government".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlinejournal.org/Special_Reports/052105Madsen/052105madsen.html|title=Galloway tongue-lashes Coleman; committee documents show Bush political friends and family paid Oil-for-Food kickbacks to Saddam Hussein|work=Onlinejournal|date=21 May 2005|access-date=9 January 2010|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120035653/http://www.onlinejournal.org/Special_Reports/052105Madsen/052105madsen.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4557369.stm |title=Media react to blistering hearing|work=BBC News |date=17 May 2005 |access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref>

=====Senate report (October 2005)=====
The report, by the then-majority [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] staff of the Senate committee, was published in October 2005. It stated that Galloway had "knowingly made false or misleading statements under oath".<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://hsgac.senate.gov/_files/PSIREPORTGallowayOct05FINAL.pdf |title=''Report Concerning the Testimony of George Galloway before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations''&nbsp;– Majority Staff of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations|date=25 October 2005|access-date=9 January 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051028130826/http://hsgac.senate.gov/_files/PSIREPORTGallowayOct05FINAL.pdf |archive-date = 28 October 2005}}</ref><ref name="MacAskill">{{cite news|last1=MacAskill|first1=Ewan|last2=Borger|first2=Julian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/25/usa.iraq|title=Galloway accused of lying to US Senate|work=The Guardian|date=25 October 2005}}</ref> The report exhibits bank statements, which the authors claim show that $150,000 of proceeds from the Oil-for-Food Program had been paid to Galloway's wife Amineh Abu-Zayyad.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Usborne |first1=David |last2=Sengupta |first2=Kim |date=27 October 2005 |title=Galloway given 18m barrels of oil from Saddam, claims independent US |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/galloway-given-18m-barrels-of-oil-from-saddam-claims-independent-us-report-322855.html |access-date=7 March 2022 |website=The Independent }}</ref>

It also stated that Galloway (and the Mariam Appeal) received eight allocations of oil from the Iraqi government amounting to 23 million barrels from 1999 to 2003. The Mariam Appeal was also found to have improperly received $446,000 via the Oil-for-Food Program.<ref name="MacAskill" /> Iraq's former prime minister [[Tariq Aziz]] was said to have told the investigators that oil had been allocated in the names of two of Galloway's representatives: Buhan Al-Chalabi and Fawaz Zureikat.<ref name="CNN251005">{{cite news |last=Neisloss |first=Liz |date=25 October 2005 |title=Galloway challenges U.S. senators |publisher=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/25/galloway.accused/}}</ref> Aziz had told the investigators: "These oil allocations were for the benefit of George Galloway and for Mariam's Appeal. The proceeds from the sale benefited the cause and Mr Galloway".<ref name="MacAskill" />

Galloway reiterated his denial of the charges and asked the US Senate committee to charge him with perjury so that he could confront the charges in court. He said the investigation was an attempt to divert attention from the "pack of lies" that led to the Iraq invasion in 2003.<ref name="CNN251005" /> He claimed Coleman's motive was revenge over the embarrassment of his appearance before the committee in May.<ref>{{cite news|title=Galloway challenges US senators|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4374534.stm|access-date=21 August 2008|date=25 October 2005|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=RESPECT – The Unity Coalition|url=http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=905|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826201343/http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=905|archive-date=26 August 2006 | access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bone|first1=James|last2=Charter|first2=David|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1841396,00.html|title=US Senate 'finds Iraq oil cash in Galloway's wife's bank account'|work=The Times|date=25 October 2005|access-date=21 August 2008|location=London}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Galloway also claimed he spoke to Aziz's lawyers, who told him "Tariq Aziz absolutely denies ever saying that I benefited from oil deals".<ref name="BBC281005">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4383700.stm|title=Aziz denies oil claims – Galloway|work=BBC News|date=28 October 2005}}</ref>

====UN committee report====
The [[United Nations]] (UN) had set up its own committee, the '[[Paul Volcker Committee]]', to investigate alleged corruption in the Oil-for-Food program. In its October 2005 report, it stated that "over 18 million barrels of oil were allocated either directly in the name of George Galloway ... or in the name of one of his associates, Fawaz Abdullah Zureikat, to support Mr Galloway's campaign against sanctions ... Zureikat received commissions for handling the sale of approximately 11 million barrels that were allocated in Mr Galloway's name".<ref name="Independent Volcker report">{{cite news |title=Galloway given 18m barrels of oil from Saddam, claims independent US report |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/galloway-given-18m-barrels-of-oil-from-saddam-claims-independent-us-report-322855.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=28 October 2005}}</ref> The report further holds that: "Iraq officials identified Mr Zureikat as acting on Mr Galloway's behalf to conduct the oil transactions in Baghdad".<ref name="Independent Volcker report"/>

The report states that payments of $445,000 were channelled through Galloway's [[Mariam Appeal]], and claims that $120,000 from oil sales was paid into the bank account of Galloway's wife Amineh Abu Zayyad, who was also involved with the Mariam Appeal.<ref name="Independent Volcker report"/>

The committee chairman, [[Paul Volcker]], suggested that his investigation had further material about Galloway which had not been published. He said "If the legal authorities in Britain want to discuss with us what other evidence we may have, that may not be in the report, then we would be prepared to co-operate".<ref name="Independent Volcker report"/>

However, the committee did not show evidence that any of the money was paid directly into accounts held by George Galloway.<ref name="Independent Volcker report"/> The report acknowledges that "both Mr Galloway and Mr Zureikat have denied that Mr Galloway was involved in obtaining the oil allocations or receiving any proceeds from the oil sales".<ref name="Independent Volcker report"/> Galloway wrote to the committee saying: "I had nothing to do with any oil deals done by Mr Fawaz Zureikat or anyone else. He and any other company involved were trading on their own behalf".<ref name="Independent Volcker report"/>

Aziz was also interviewed for the Volcker Committee, but changed his story, which the committee considered unconvincing.<ref name="BBC281005" />

====Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards====
When the allegations against Galloway emerged in 2003, the UK parliament's [[Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards|Commissioner for Standards]] began investigating, as Galloway was a Member of Parliament and none of the alleged funding had been declared in the Register of Members' Interests.<ref name="Standards Commissioner">{{cite web|author=[[Standards and Privileges Committee]]|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmstnprv/909/90905.htm#a63|title=Appendix 1: Memorandum from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|date=17 July 2007}}</ref> The Commissioner, [[Philip Mawer]], was overseen by the [[Standards and Privileges Committee]]. After a four-year investigation, he published a detailed report in 2007, which concluded:
<blockquote>I have not found a "smoking gun" which shows that Mr Galloway has, personally and directly, unlawfully received moneys from the former Iraqi regime. However I have amassed a very substantial body of evidence from a variety of sources which is generally internally consistent and, in my view:
a)  Clearly shows that Mr Galloway's anti-sanctions work through the Mariam Appeal was in effect supported by the former Iraqi regime, through Mr Fawaz Zureikat and using, among other things, the mechanism of the Oil for Food Programme.

b)  Clearly shows that Mr Galloway at best turned a blind eye to the fact that this was happening.

c)  Shows that it is more likely than not that Mr Galloway knew about and was complicit in what was happening.<ref name="Standards Commissioner"/></blockquote>

The Commissioner noted, however, that he did not have "access to bank accounts held either solely by Mr Galloway or jointly by him with others".<ref name="Standards Commissioner"/>

===Founding the Respect Party===
Galloway wrote in an article for ''The Guardian'' at the end of October 2003 that he would soon be part of a coalition consisting of the "red, green, anti-war, Muslim and other social constituencies radicalised by the war."<ref>{{cite news|last=Galloway|first=George|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/30/labour.uk|title=Why I will stand against New Labour|work=The Guardian|date=30 October 2003}}</ref> In January 2004, it emerged that Galloway would be working with the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]] in England and Wales, and others, under the name [[Respect Party|Respect – The Unity Coalition]], generally referred to simply as "Respect".<ref>{{cite news|last=Tempest|first=Matthew|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/jan/23/iraq.iraq1|title=Anti-war coalition looks to the future|work=The Guardian|date=23 January 2004}}</ref> In the opinion of [[Nick Cohen]] of ''[[The Observer]]'' it was an "alliance{{nbsp}}... between the [[Trotskyist]] far left and the Islamic far right."<ref>{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=Nick|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jan/15/realitytv.bigbrother|title=Galloway can no longer count on the indulgence of polite society|work=The Observer|date=15 January 2006}}</ref>

Galloway announced in December 2003 that he would not force a by-election and did not intend to contest the next general election in [[Glasgow]]. His Glasgow Kelvin seat was to be split between three constituencies for the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|next general election]]. In one of these, the new [[Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Central]] constituency, [[Mohammad Sarwar (politician)|Mohammad Sarwar]], the first [[Muslim]] Labour MP, wanted to be selected as the candidate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/clark-becomes-political-pawn-1-497583|title=Clark becomes political pawn|work=The Scotsman|date=11 December 2003}}</ref> Galloway chose not to challenge him, announcing this decision at the end of May 2004 in his ''[[Mail on Sunday]]'' column.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/galloway-withdraws-from-westminster-contest-1-533320|title=Galloway withdraws from Westminster contest|work=The Scotsman|date=30 May 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3761701.stm|title=Galloway says no to Scottish seat|work=BBC News|date=30 May 2004}}</ref>

==MP for Bethnal Green (2005–2010)==
[[File:George Galloway.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Galloway in September 2005]]
===General election 2005===
After the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004 European Parliamentary election]] results became known, in which Galloway stood in London,<ref>{{cite news|last=Galloway|first=George|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/may/28/elections2004.eu|title=You can spin, but you can't hide|work=The Guardian|date=28 May 2004|access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> but did not gain a seat, he announced that he would stand in [[East London]] at the next general election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Muir|first=Hugh|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/jun/14/uk.elections20044|title=Galloway's Euro ambitions dashed|work=The Guardian|date=14 June 2004|access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> On 2 December, he confirmed that he was aiming to be nominated as the Respect Party candidate for [[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tryhorn|first1=Chris|last2=Happold|first2=Tom|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/dec/02/pressandpublishing.immigrationpolicy
|title=Galloway to contest east London seat|work=The Guardian|date=2 December 2004|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref>

The ensuing electoral campaign in the seat proved to be a difficult one with heated exchanges between Galloway, [[Oona King]] (the incumbent Labour MP for [[Bethnal Green and Bow]]), and their respective supporters. Galloway and Respect threatened to sue King, whose mother is [[Jewish]], if she repeated her assertion in the ''[[London Evening Standard|Evening Standard]]'' on 10 April 2005 which reported her as saying: "I have been told by several people that members of Respect have told Muslim voters "not to vote for me because I am Jewish"".<ref name="Barkham">{{cite news|last=Barkham|first=Patrick|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/12/uk.otherparties|title=MP accuses Galloway backers of anti-semitism|work=The Guardian|date=12 April 2005|access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Waugh">{{cite news|last=Waugh|first=Paul|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/king-and-galloway-clash-again-7215541.html|title=King and Galloway clash again|work=London Evening Standard|date=10 April 2005|access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> A major issue of the campaign was King's support for the [[Iraq War]].<ref name="bbc060505">{{cite web |title=Galloway's East End street fight |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4519575.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=4 March 2024 |date=6 May 2005}}</ref>

Galloway was asked at a hustings early in the campaign why he was standing against one of only two black female MPs to which he replied that King had "voted to kill a lot of women in the last few years. Many of them had much darker skins than her".<ref name="Barkham" /><ref name="Waugh" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Alleyne|first=Richard|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1487568/Jewish-MP-pelted-with-eggs-at-war-memorial.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1487568/Jewish-MP-pelted-with-eggs-at-war-memorial.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Jewish MP pelted with eggs at war memorial|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 April 2005}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Claiming to be the ghost of Old Labour, Galloway told ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' contributor [[A. A. Gill]] that "we're here to haunt new Labour".<ref name="Gill170405">{{cite news|last=Gill|first=A.A.|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/elections/article1841820.ece|title=Gorgeous George goes a'wooing|work=The Sunday Times|date=17 April 2005|access-date=11 December 2016|pages=1, 3}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Bethnal Green and Bow is "where Labour was founded. We're giving birth to the Labour Party all over again".<ref name="Gill170405" />

Galloway said at a hustings event that the [[Second Blair Ministry|Labour Government]] had been pursuing a "war on Muslims" while King said her stance against Saddam Hussein had been "principled".<ref name="BBC060505">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4519575.stm|title=Galloway's East End street fight|work=BBC News|date=6 May 2005}}</ref> Galloway received death threats from an offshoot of [[al-Muhajiroun]] (a banned extreme [[Islamist]] group). On 19 April, about 30 men forced Galloway's meeting with a tenants' association to be abandoned after claiming he was a "false prophet" for encouraging Muslims to vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/galloway-faces-death-threat-from-islamic-extremists-1-708687|title=Galloway faces death threat from Islamic extremists|work=The Scotsman|date=21 April 2005}}</ref><ref>An article in ''The Guardian'' identified the group as [[Al Ghurabaa|al-Ghuraaba]]. See {{cite news|last1=Gillan|first1=Audrey|last2=Dodd|first2=Vikram|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/22/uk.election20052|title=Islamists step up campaign to stop Muslims voting|work=The Guardian|date=22 April 2005}} Galloway himself said the group was [[Hizb ut-Tahrir]]. See {{cite news|last1=Waugh|first1=Paul|last2=Stubbs|first2=Flora|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/hate-mob-attacks-galloway-7252164.html|title=Hate mob attacks Galloway|work=<!-- Not the "London ..." until 2009. -->Evening Standard|date=20 April 2005}}</ref> Galloway was held by the group for about 20 minutes before the police arrived at the scene.<ref>{{cite news|last=Alleyne|first=Richard|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1488293/Police-move-in-for-the-battle-of-Bethnal-Green.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1488293/Police-move-in-for-the-battle-of-Bethnal-Green.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Police move in for the battle of Bethnal Green|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=21 April 2005}}{{cbignore}}</ref> All the major candidates united in condemning the threats and violence. Both the Labour and Respect candidates were given police protection.<ref>{{cite news |title=Politics: Election 2005: Galloway told to avoid his home |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4467147.stm |access-date=15 December 2005 |work=BBC News |date=20 April 2005}}</ref>

It emerged in a [[Channel 4]] ''[[Dispatches (TV series)|Dispatches]]'' programme in 2010 that the [[Islamic Forum of Europe]], which advocates [[sharia law]], had been involved in campaigning for Galloway in the Bethnal Green constituency. In a secretly recorded speech at a dinner shortly after his election, Galloway said that the involvement of the IFE had played "the decisive role" in his win.<ref name="Gilligan2010">{{cite news|last=Gilligan|first=Andrew|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100060409/britains-islamic-republic-full-transcript-of-channel-4-dispatches-programme-on-lutfur-rahman-the-ife-and-tower-hamlets-the-full-transcript/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024163414/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100060409/britains-islamic-republic-full-transcript-of-channel-4-dispatches-programme-on-lutfur-rahman-the-ife-and-tower-hamlets-the-full-transcript/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2010|title=Britain's Islamic republic': full transcript of Channel 4 Dispatches programme on Lutfur Rahman, the IFE and Tower Hamlets|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=22 October 2010}}</ref> Although the IFE itself denied the accusation, Galloway admitted in a statement that the allegation was true.<ref name="Gilligan2010" />

[[2005 United Kingdom general election|On 5 May]], Galloway gained the seat from the Labour Party with a narrow majority of 823 votes, and denounced the returning officer for alleged discrepancies in the electoral process.<ref>{{cite news|date=17 July 2007|title=George Galloway profile|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4539429.stm|access-date=4 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4520121.stm|title=Shock win for Galloway in London|work=BBC News|date=6 May 2005}}</ref> After the election result became known, Galloway's spokesman, Ron McKay, rejected claims that King had been racially abused during the campaign and said it was King who had brought up her Jewish background.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4535885.stm|title=Oona King denounces intimidation|work=BBC News|date=11 May 2005|access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

In his acceptance speech, Galloway said "Mr Blair, this is for Iraq".<ref name="bbc060505"/> During the BBC's election night coverage, [[Jeremy Paxman]] asked Galloway about whether he was happy to have removed one of the few black women in parliament, He replied: "I don't believe that people get elected because of the colour of their skin. I believe that people get elected because of their record and because of their policies".<ref name="Paxman">{{cite news|title=Paxman v Galloway|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/blog/4519553.stm|access-date=6 May 2005|date=30 June 2011|work=BBC News}}</ref> [[Oona King]] later told [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Today (BBC Radio 4)|Today]]'' programme that she found Paxman's line of questioning inappropriate. Galloway "shouldn't be barred from running against me because I'm a black woman.{{nbsp}}... I was not defined, or did not wish to be defined, by either my ethnicity or religious background".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_oonaking_20050511.ram|title=Oona King – BBC Radio 4 Interview (RAM file)|date=11 May 2005|access-date=9 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325052121/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_oonaking_20050511.ram|archive-date=25 March 2009}}</ref>

===''Celebrity Big Brother''===
In January 2006, Galloway appeared on the [[Celebrity Big Brother (British series 4)|fourth series]] of the reality TV programme ''[[Celebrity Big Brother (British TV series)|Celebrity Big Brother]]'' for nearly three weeks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mulholland|first=Hélène|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jan/25/broadcasting.otherparties|title=Galloway evicted from Big Brother house|work=The Guardian|date=25 January 2006}}</ref> During his time on the programme, he mimed licking imaginary milk, whilst pretending to be a cat, from the cupped hands of another housemate, actress [[Rula Lenska]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4608082.stm|title=Galloway 'cat' act sparks anger|work=BBC News|date=13 January 2006|access-date=13 December 2015}}</ref> He wrote later that his activities "were actually the same stunts that BBC presenters and celebs get up for ''[[Children in Need]]''".<ref name="Galloway1109">{{cite news|last=Galloway|first=George|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/i-can-live-with-jibes-about-my-big-brother-antics-but-not-this-misrepresentation-of-respect-8301256.html|title=I can live with jibes about my Big Brother antics, but not this misrepresentation of Respect|work=The Independent|date=9 November 2012}}</ref>

Galloway faced a claim at the time from [[Hilary Armstrong]], Labour's Chief Whip, that he should "respect his constituents, not his ego".<ref name="Gillan140106">{{cite news|last=Gillan|first=Audrey|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jan/14/channel4.broadcasting|title=From firebrand to pussycat: Galloway's TV transformation|work=The Guardian|date=14 January 2006|access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> Ron McKay, his spokesman and friend, said of the imaginary milk incident: "I rather wish he hadn't been given that particularly silly task". It had been assumed, McKay said, that Galloway's comments about politics would not be cut.<ref name="Gillan140106" /> Just after his eviction, Galloway told presenter [[Davina McCall]] he was positive about having taken part, although when asked if he was "glad" to have participated, he said: "Not after I've seen those press cuttings."<!-- Direct quotes here have been verified from the video, as well as from reliable sources. --><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/397295/galloway-no-big-brother-regrets|title=Galloway: 'No Big Brother Regrets'|publisher=Sky News|date=26 January 2006|access-date=13 December 2015}}</ref>

Galloway wrote in a column for ''[[The Independent]]'' newspaper in November 2012 that his "antics on ''Big Brother''" had "raised tens of thousands of pounds for the charity [[Interpal]]" and paid for an "extra caseworker in my constituency".<ref name="Galloway1109" />

===Suspension from parliament===
On 17 July 2007, following a four-year inquiry, the House of Commons [[Standards and Privileges Committee|Select Committee on Standards and Privileges]] published its sixth report. The [[Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards]], in an addendum to the report, concluded that there was no evidence that Galloway gained any personal benefit from either the former Iraqi administration, or from the Oil-for-Food Programme, but admitted that some documents had been unavailable to him.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Committee Office, House of Commons|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmstnprv/909/90905.htm#a63|title=Appendix 1: Memorandum from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|date=17 July 2007|access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref> However, the Committee concluded, in the main body of the report:

{{cquote|we agree with the Commissioner that there is strong circumstantial evidence that the Oil for Food Programme was used by the Iraqi government, with Mr Galloway's connivance, to fund the campaigning activities of the Mariam Appeal.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Committee Office, House of Commons|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmstnprv/909/90904.htm|title=House of Commons – Standards and Privileges – Sixth Report|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|date=17 July 2007|access-date=19 April 2016}}</ref>
}}

It found that Galloway's use of parliamentary resources to support his work on the Mariam Appeal "went beyond what was reasonable" and "we recommend that he apologise to the House, and be suspended from its service for a period of 18 actual sitting days."<ref name="parlcom">{{cite web|author=The Committee Office, House of Commons |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmstnprv/909/90904.htm#a12 |title=Select Committee on Standards and Privileges Sixth Report |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref>

Galloway's suspension was not intended to be immediate, and he was given the opportunity to defend himself in front of the committee members in the House of Commons on 23 July 2007. During the debate, Galloway repeatedly called into question the motives of the members of the Select Committee, in particular claiming that some of them were members of a political organisation named "Indict" and were persecuting him for speaking out against the Iraq War. Speaker [[Michael Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn|Michael Martin]] warned Galloway that his accusations were not relevant to the matter at hand, but he rejected the warning and responded by saying that Martin would have to order him out of the house if he had any issue with the accusations. Martin therefore [[Naming (parliamentary procedure)|named]] Galloway, leading to the attending members voting to trigger his suspension from parliament that day rather than wait until after the summer recess as had been recommended.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070723/debtext/70723-0013.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 23 July 2007 (pt 0013)|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom}}</ref>

The Respect Party split in the autumn of 2007, with the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers' Party]] and Galloway's wing of Respect blaming each other for what he described as a "car crash on the left".<ref>{{cite news|last=Nunns|first=Alex|url=http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Car-crash-on-the-left/|title=Car crash on the left|work=Red Pepper|date=December 2007}}</ref> Galloway did not seek re-election in Bethnal Green and Bow at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], fulfilling a pledge he made to only serve one parliamentary term in the constituency.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/aug/10/politicalnews.uk | title=Galloway to take on Labour minister at next election | newspaper=The Guardian | date=10 August 2007 | last1=Shipp | first1=Tom }}</ref> He instead opted to stand in the neighbouring constituency of [[Poplar and Limehouse (UK Parliament constituency)|Poplar and Limehouse]] and received 8,160 votes coming third after the Labour and Conservative candidates.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bowcott|first=Owen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/07/george-galloway-respect-party|title=UK election results: George Galloway comes third as Respect party vote slumps|work=The Guardian|date=7 May 2010|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>

===''Viva Palestina'' aid convoys===
{{Main|Viva Palestina}}
[[File:George Galloway (3184599409) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|George Galloway at a January 2009 protest against the 2009 Gaza War]]
In response to the 2008–09 Israel–Gaza conflict Galloway instigated the ''[[Viva Palestina]]'' aid convoy to the [[Gaza Strip]] in January 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last=Grossman|first=Michelle Malka|year=2015|title=Anti-Israel Politician Loses UK Parliament Seat in Election|work=The Jerusalem Post|url=http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Anti-Israel-MP-loses-parliament-seat-402480|access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref> "There is a kind of intifada among the youth. They are determined to act", he told Cole Moreton writing for ''The Independent'', adding, "We say, 'Don't be lured by the siren voices of separatism and extremism – join with us and express your anger politically, in a way that will be peaceful, non-violent, and not cost you your life, but will not cost other people their lives either".<ref>{{cite news|last=Moreton|first=Cole|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/george-galloway-because-youre-gorgeous-1622484.html|title=George Galloway: Because you're Gorgeous!|work=The Independent on Sunday|date=15 February 2009|access-date=22 September 2017}}</ref>

By mid-February, the organisation claimed to have raised over £1,000,000 for humanitarian aid in four weeks, although the Charity Commission later found the true figure to be £180,000.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jessica|last=Elgot|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/29203/viva-palestina-did-not-give-money-hamas|date=9 March 2010|access-date=2 January 2015|title=Viva Palestina 'did not give money to Hamas'|work=The Jewish Chronicle|location=London}}</ref> On 14 February 2009, Galloway and hundreds of volunteers launched the convoy comprising approximately 120 vehicles intended for use in the Strip, including a fire engine donated by the [[Fire Brigades Union]] (FBU), 12 ambulances, a boat and trucks full of medicines, tools, clothes, blankets and gifts for children. The 5,000-mile route passed through [[Belgium]], France, Spain, [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]], [[Tunisia]], [[Libya]] and [[Egypt]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7889948.stm|date=14 February 2009|access-date=16 February 2009|title=Gaza-bound aid convoy leaving UK|work=BBC News}}</ref>

The convoy arrived in Gaza on 9 March,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7932764.stm|date=9 March 2009|access-date=20 March 2009|title=UK aid convoy crosses into Gaza|work=BBC News}}</ref> accompanied by approximately 180 extra trucks of aid donated by Libya's [[Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations|Gaddafi Foundation]]. On 10 March 2009, Galloway announced at a press conference in [[Gaza City]] attended by several senior Hamas officials: "We are giving you now 100 vehicles and all of their contents, and we make no apology for what I am about to say. We are giving them to the elected government of Palestine", adding that he would personally donate three cars and £25,000 to Hamas organisation "Prime Minister" Ismail Haniya.<ref name="AFP100309">{{cite web|author=Staff|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hVfkS_BAzf-CcTYE6baYi9PN5jwA|title=AFP: Galloway gives cars and cash to Hamas in Gaza|date=10 March 2009|access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref>

On 8 April 2009, Galloway joined [[Vietnam War]] veteran [[Ron Kovic]] to launch ''Viva Palestina US''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vivapalestina.org/|access-date=8 April 2009|title=Viva Palestina! news}}</ref> A [[Lifeline 3|third ''Viva Palestina'']] convoy began travelling at the end of 2009. On 8 January 2010, Galloway and his colleague Ron McKay were deported from Egypt immediately following their entry from [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]]. They had been attempting to help take about 200 aid trucks into the Gaza Strip. They were driven by the police to the airport and placed on a plane bound for London.<ref name="Crilly">{{cite news|last=Crilly|first=Rob|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/6951941/George-Galloway-thrown-out-of-Egypt.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/6951941/George-Galloway-thrown-out-of-Egypt.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=George Galloway thrown out of Egypt|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=8 January 2010|access-date=27 December 2016|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8447847.stm|title=George Galloway MP deported from Egypt|work=BBC News|date=8 January 2010|access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref>

The [[Foreign Ministry of Egypt]] released a statement reading: "George Galloway is considered ''persona non grata'' and will not be allowed to enter into Egypt again". Shortly after his deportation, Galloway said, "It is a badge of honour to be deported by a dictatorship" and "I've been thrown out of better joints than that."<ref name=ynet>{{cite news|work=[[Ynetnews]]|access-date=9 January 2010|date=8 January 2010|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3831587,00.html|title=Egypt declares UK politician persona non grata}}</ref>

Viva Palestina was registered as a charity in April 2009 but, following its continued non-submission of accounts, ceased to be recognised as a charitable organisation in November 2013.<ref name="3rd sector">{{cite web|last=Ainsworth|first=David|url=http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/go/news/article/1219637/commission-removes-galloways-viva-palestina-charities-register/|title=Commission removes Galloway's Viva Palestina from the charities register|work=Third Sector|date=5 November 2013}}</ref> It was taken over by the Charity Commission in October 2014, which appointed an accountant to oversee the group because of the concerns over its financial management.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=David|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article4232250.ece|title=Regulator takes over Galloway charity|work=The Times|location=London|date=10 October 2014|access-date=16 September 2015}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

==MP for Bradford West (2012–2015)==
[[File:Gorgeous (6862399224).jpg|upright|thumb|George Galloway election poster in Bradford, 2012]]
===By-election 2012===
{{Main|2012 Bradford West by-election}}

After the resignation of Labour MP [[Marsha Singh]] due to ill health, Galloway returned to parliament at the [[2012 Bradford West by-election|March 2012 Bradford West by-election]] in an unexpected landslide result, with Galloway calling it "the most sensational victory in British political history."<ref>{{cite news|last=Wintour|first=Patrick|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/mar/30/george-galloway-bradford-west-byelection|title= George Galloway wins Bradford West by-election|work=The Guardian|date=29 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Savage|first1=Michael|last2=Naughton|first2=Philippe|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3369242.ece|title=Labour disaster as George Galloway wins Bradford West|work=The Times|location=London|date=30 March 2012|access-date=16 September 2015}} (subscription required)</ref> His 36% swing, defeating the Labour candidate [[Imran Hussain (British politician)|Imran Hussain]], was amongst the largest in modern British political history.<ref>{{cite news|last=McSmith|first=Andy|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-mcsmiths-diary-respect-mp-george-galloway-needs-to-work-on-his-swing-10137061.html|title=Diary: Respect MP George Galloway needs to work on his swing|work=The Independent|date=26 March 2015}}</ref> [[Jeremy Corbyn]], then a backbench Labour MP, congratulated him in a [[Twitter|tweet]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9175133/George-Galloway-wins-Bradford-West-by-election.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9175133/George-Galloway-wins-Bradford-West-by-election.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=George Galloway wins Bradford West by-election|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=30 March 2012|access-date=3 September 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bennett|first=Asa|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/26/electing-jeremy-corbyn-labour-leader-has-exposed-how-vacuous-the/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/26/electing-jeremy-corbyn-labour-leader-has-exposed-how-vacuous-the/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Electing Jeremy Corbyn Labour leader has exposed how vacuous the hard Left really is|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=26 August 2016|access-date=3 September 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Galloway described the result as a "Bradford spring" (after the [[Arab Spring]]) and said that it showed the "total rejection" by voters of the three leading political parties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17549388|work=BBC News|title=George Galloway wins Bradford West by-election|date=30 March 2012|access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref>

The election campaign was marked by controversy, in particular over the role of [[sectarianism]], [[Baradari (brotherhood)|Baradari]] (clan) networks, and allegations about rivals' lack of "Islamic values" <ref name="guardian1">[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/mar/27/george-galloway-bradford-west-byelection Bradford West byelection: George Galloway shakes up Labour relations], by Helen Pidd, ''The Guardian'', 27 March 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9176195/A-runaway-victory-for-George-Galloway-and-all-praise-to-Allah.html |title=A runaway victory for George Galloway – and all praise to Allah |date=30 March 2012 |publisher=Telegraph |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref><ref>Michael Savage, [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/galloway-bounces-back-with-shock-by-election-win-in-bradford-spring-bz38nt3d9rq "Galloway bounces back with shock by-election win in safe Labour seat"], pages 8-9, ''The Times'', Saturday 30 March 2012</ref> [[Andrew Gilligan]] noted in ''The Daily Telegraph'' that Galloway had won in wards with a predominantly white electorate as well as those with a majority Muslim population.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9176195/A-runaway-victory-for-George-Galloway-and-all-praise-to-Allah.html|title=A runaway victory for George Galloway – and all praise to Allah|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=4 April 2012|location=London|first=Andrew|last=Gilligan|date=30 March 2012}}</ref> [[Nick Robinson (journalist)|Nick Robinson]], the BBC's political editor, believed it was "a one-off political coup by a political one-off" in a seat which has not followed national trends in the past.<ref>{{cite news|last=Robinson|first=Nick|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17559759|title=Bradford – an extraordinary one-off|work=BBC News|date=30 March 2012}}</ref> The novelist [[Howard Jacobson]] in ''The Independent'' wrote that Galloway's "campaign shamelessly courted Muslim prejudice in smaller matters such as alcohol – where Galloway painted himself as more Muslim than the Muslim Labour candidate whom he accused of liking, shock horror, a tipple."<ref>{{cite news|last=Jacobson|first=Howard|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/howard-jacobson/howard-jacobson-dont-get-too-close-to-your-enemys-enemy-7624753.html|title=Don't get too close to your enemy's enemy|work=The Independent|date=7 April 2012}}</ref> [[Patrick Cockburn]] in ''The Independent on Sunday'' commented: "It says something about the comatose nature of British politics that an effective critic of{{nbsp}}... failed wars like Mr Galloway, who beats an established party, should be instantly savaged as a self-serving demagogue."<ref>{{cite news|last=Cockburn|first=Patrick|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/patrick-cockburn-galloway-won-for-some-very-good-reasons-7626852.html|title=Galloway won for some very good reasons|work=The Independent|date=8 April 2012}}</ref>

In October 2013, the ''[[Total Politics]]'' magazine published an interview with Galloway in which he admitted: "I like elections more than I like serving", and said that he found being an MP was "2% terrifying, and 98% tedium."<ref name="Chakelian">{{cite news |last=Chakelian |first=Anoosh |url=http://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/427087/george-galloway-in-for-the-kill.thtml |title=George Galloway: In for the kill |work=Total Politics |date=22 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025185056/http://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/427087/george-galloway-in-for-the-kill.thtml |archive-date=25 October 2013 }}</ref>

In late 2013, Galloway became Leader of the Respect Party.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|date=28 October 2013|title=Who is the leader of the Respect party these days?|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/the-northerner/2013/oct/28/georgegalloway-respect-party}}</ref>

===Comments on Julian Assange sexual assault allegations===
Galloway was criticised for comments he made in August 2012 on the [[Assange v Swedish Prosecution Authority|legal case]] involving Wikileaks' [[Julian Assange]] in a podcast released on YouTube. He stated that "I think that Julian Assange's personal sexual behaviour is something sordid, disgusting, and I condemn it."<ref name="Hern">{{cite news|last=Hern|first=Alex|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/george-galloway-assange-only-accused-bad-sexual-etiquette|title=George Galloway: Assange is only accused of 'bad sexual etiquette'|work=New Statesman|date=20 August 2012}}</ref> Swedish prosecutors wanted to question Assange in relation to the alleged sexual assault of two women,<!-- Still will be questioned if JA should visit Sweden before August 2020. --> an accusation he has rejected.<ref name="BBC200812">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19323783|title=George Galloway attacked over Assange 'rape' comments|work=BBC News|date=20 August 2012|access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref>

Galloway continued by stating: "But even taken at its worst, if the allegations made by these two women were true, 100 per cent true, and even if a camera in the room captured them, they don't constitute rape, at least not rape as anyone with any sense can possibly recognise it." He also stated that "not everybody needs to be asked prior to each insertion."<ref name=Israeldenial>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Joan|title=George Galloway's Israel denial may repel the mainstream, but it further cements his reputation within his religious constituency|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/george-galloways-israel-denial-may-repel-the-mainstream-but-it-further-cements-his-reputation-within-his-religious-constituency-8507035.html|date=22 February 2013|work=The Independent|access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19334598|title=Galloway 'clarifies' rape comments amid growing storm|date=21 August 2012|work=BBC News|access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref><ref name=huffingtonarenotrape>{{cite web|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/08/20/george-galloway-julian-assange-wikileaks-rape_n_1810653.html|title=George Galloway: 'The Julian Assange Sex Crime Allegations, If True, Are Not Rape|work=The Huffington Post UK|date=20 August 2012}}</ref> He continued by saying that the allegations, even if true, "don't constitute rape" because initiating sex with someone who is asleep after a sexual encounter the previous night is not rape (one of the women, he said, "woke up to him [Assange] having sex with her again – something which can happen, you know").<ref name="BBC200812" /> He said that Assange's alleged actions amounted to no more than "bad sexual etiquette", and he did not believe the women's story anyway.<ref name="Hern" />

According to British barrister Felicity Gerry, Galloway's description of rape is not correct under English law.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gerry|first=Felicity|title=There are no dream lovers for 'Sleep Rape' Victims by @felicitygerry|url=http://stretlaw.co.uk/2011/10/29/there-are-no-dream-lovers-for-%E2%80%98sleep-rape%E2%80%99-victims/|access-date=21 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821153213/http://stretlaw.co.uk/2011/10/29/there-are-no-dream-lovers-for-%E2%80%98sleep-rape%E2%80%99-victims/|archive-date=21 August 2012}}</ref> Galloway's comments were criticised by anti-rape campaigners as "ignorant", "very unhelpful", "offensive" and "deeply concerning."<ref name=huffingtonarenotrape /><ref>{{cite news|last=Booth|first=Robert|title=George Galloway wades into Julian Assange row – and creates a storm|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/aug/20/george-galloway-julian-assange-rape|access-date=21 August 2012|work=The Guardian|date=20 August 2012}}</ref> Then-Respect Party leader [[Salma Yaqoob]] described Galloway's comments as "deeply disappointing and wrong."<ref>{{cite web|last=Yaqoob|first=Salma|title=Good News and Bad|url=http://www.salmayaqoob.com/2012/08/good-news-and-bad.html|publisher=Respect|access-date=21 August 2012|archive-date=24 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824033547/http://www.salmayaqoob.com/2012/08/good-news-and-bad.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Naughton|first1=Phillippe|last2=Byers|first2=David|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article3514470.ece|title=Galloway rape comments 'wrong', says Respect party leader|work=The Times|location=London|date=22 August 2012|access-date=16 September 2015}} (subscription required)</ref> She subsequently resigned from her post and the party.<ref name="Woodcock">{{cite news|last=Woodcock|first=Andrew|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/respect-chief-salma-yaqoob-quits-over-george-galloway-rape-row-8129888.html|title=Respect chief Salma Yaqoob quits over George Galloway rape row|work=The Independent|date=12 September 2012}}</ref> Yaqoob later stated that having to choose between Galloway's "anti-imperialist stances" and standing up for the rights of women was "a false choice."<ref name=Israeldenial /><ref>{{cite news|last=Edemariam|first=Aida|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/sep/22/salma-yaqoob-respect-george-galloway|title=Respect's Salma Yaqoob: 'Why I quit'|work=The Guardian|date=22 September 2012}}</ref>

Galloway subsequently lost his job as a columnist for ''[[Holyrood (magazine)|Holyrood]]'', a Scottish political magazine, for refusing to apologise for his remarks,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/aug/22/george-galloway-sacked-holyrood-rape?newsfeed=true|work=The Guardian|first=Severin|last=Carrell|title=George Galloway|date=22 August 2012}}</ref> and subject to a [[No platform]] policy by the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]].<ref name="OGrady 2020">{{cite web | last=O'Grady | first=Patrick | title=George Galloway attempts to sue NUS for 'No Platform' policy | website=Varsity Online | date=5 June 2020 | url=http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/4869 | access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="HuffPost 2012">{{cite web | author=Dina Rickman | title=George Galloway Banned By The NUS For Julian Assange 'Rape' Comments | website=HuffPost  | date=27 September 2012 | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/27/george-galloway-banned-by-nus-rape-denier_n_1918468.html | access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref>

===Oxford debate walkout, 2013===
On 20 February 2013, Galloway walked out of a publicised debate when he found out that his opponent had Israeli citizenship. The debate, hosted by [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]]'s [[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]],<ref name="Cherwell">{{cite news|last=Beardsworth|first=Tom|url=http://www.cherwell.org/news/uk/2013/02/20/george-galloway-in-antiisrael-storm|title=George Galloway in anti-Israel storm|work=Cherwell|date=20 February 2013}}</ref> was on the topic "Israel should withdraw immediately from the [[West Bank]]". Galloway interrupted his opponent, [[Eylon Levy]], a third-year [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics|PPE]] student,<ref>{{cite news|last=Handley|first=Matt|url=http://oxfordstudent.com/2013/02/14/galloway-says-he-will-annihilate/|title=Galloway says he will 'annihilate'|work=[[The Oxford Student]]|date=14 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="MurrayJones">{{cite news|last1=Murray|first1=Warren|last2=Jones|first2=Sam|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/feb/21/george-galloway-debate-israeli-oxford|title=George Galloway refuses to debate with Israeli student at Oxford|work=The Guardian|date=21 February 2013|access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref> to ask whether he was an Israeli. When Levy acknowledged his joint British-Israeli nationality,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/british-mp-ditches-debate-because-rival-is-israeli|title=British MP ditches debate because rival is Israeli|work=The Times of Israel|date=21 February 2013}}</ref> Galloway stood up and stated "I don't recognize Israel and I don't debate with Israelis" and left the meeting.<ref name="Dych">{{cite news|last=Dysch|first=Marcus|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/128947/bbc-attacked-over-provocative-george-galloway-question-time-appearance|title=BBC attacked over 'provocative' George Galloway Question Time appearance|work=The Jewish Chronicle|quote=Two years ago he walked out of a debate at Oxford University after discovering his opponent was Israeli, saying 'I don't debate with Israelis'.|date=27 January 2015|access-date=31 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dysch|first=Marcus|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/galloway-s-boycott-a-bully-act-1.42274|title=Galloway's boycott a 'bully' act|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=28 February 2013|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/02/21/3120216/british-mp-called-racist-for-refusing-to-debate-israeli|title=British lawmaker Galloway called 'racist' for quitting debate with Israeli|publisher=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]|date=21 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415074557/http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/02/21/3120216/british-mp-called-racist-for-refusing-to-debate-israeli|archive-date=15 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/uk-news/51631/galloway-tells-student-i-wont-debate-israelis-video|title=Galloway tells student 'I won't debate with Israelis' – video|work=[[The Week]]|date=21 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Shaviv|first=Miriam|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-british-student-had-earlier-run-in-with-boycotting-mp|title=Israeli-British student had earlier run-in with boycotting MP|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=22 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Marcus|first=Lori Lowenthal|url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/british-mp-storms-out-i-dont-recognise-israel-and-i-dont-debate-with-israelis/2013/02/22|title=British MP Storming Out: 'I Don't Debate with Israelis'|work=[[The Jewish Press]]|date=22 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brady|first=Phelim|url=http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/5654|title=Galloway walks out of debate with Oxford Israeli student|work=[[Varsity (Cambridge)|Varsity]]|date=22 February 2013}}</ref> Explaining his actions on his Facebook page, Galloway wrote:

{{cquote|The reason is simple: no recognition, no normalisation. Just [[BDS movement|boycott, divestment and sanctions]], until the [[Israel and apartheid|apartheid]] state is defeated. I never debate with Israelis nor speak to their media. If they want to speak about Palestine – the address is the [[Palestinian Liberation Organization|PLO]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams |first=Rob |work=The Independent |title='I don't debate with Israelis': George Galloway accused of racism after walking out of Middle East debate at Oxford |access-date=21 February 2013 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/i-dont-debate-with-israelis-george-galloway-accused-of-racism-after-walking-out-of-middle-east-debate-at-oxford-8505232.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224002730/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/i-dont-debate-with-israelis-george-galloway-accused-of-racism-after-walking-out-of-middle-east-debate-at-oxford-8505232.html |archive-date=24 February 2013 |date=21 February 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>}}

Galloway later claimed on his Twitter feed that he had been "misled", writing that "Christ Church never informed us that the debate would be with an Israeli. Simple."<ref name="Huffingtonpoststorms">{{cite news|last=Sherriff|first=Lucy|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/21/anti-semitic-george-galloway-oxford-debate-israeli-student_n_2731009.html|title=George Galloway Storms Out On Israeli Student During Oxford University Debate|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=22 February 2013}}</ref> The organiser, Mahmood Naji, denied Galloway's allegations in an open letter, explaining: "At no point during my email exchange with Mr Galloway's secretary was Eylon's nationality ever brought up or mentioned{{nbsp}}... nor do I expect to have to tell the speaker what his opponent's nationality is."<ref name="Cherwell" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4347931,00.html|title=British MP storms out of debate with Israeli student|work=[[Ynetnews]]|date=21 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/21/george-galloway|title=I don't debate with Israelis': British MP George Galloway storms out of debate after realizing fellow panellist's heritage|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|agency=[[National Post]] Wire Services|date=21 February 2013}}</ref>

Galloway's behaviour was criticised by [[Julian Huppert]], the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] MP for [[Cambridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Cambridge]],<ref name="Huffingtonpoststorms" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Joan|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/george-galloways-israel-denial-may-repel-the-mainstream-but-it-further-cements-his-reputation-within-his-religious-constituency-8507035.html|title=George Galloway's Israel denial may repel the mainstream, but it further cements his reputation within his religious constituency|work=The Independent|date=22 February 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/leaders/article3695808.ece|title=Lack of Respect|work=The Times|location=London|date=22 February 2013|access-date=16 September 2015}} (subscription required)</ref> The [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] (BDS) National Committee subsequently released a statement indicating that, while it does support a "boycott of Israel", the campaign rejects boycotting an individual "because she or he happens to be Israeli or because they express certain views."<ref name="MurrayJones" /><ref name="Cherwell" />

In a debate at [[The Oxford Union]] the following October, Galloway compared the support of debating Israeli Zionists with that of supporting South African [[apartheid]]. Referring indirectly to his encounter with Aslan-Levy, Galloway said that he had worked with Jewish anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, adding "So Jews don't have to be on the side of apartheid".<ref>{{cite web|author=Tim Y|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jgZHlV9UMI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/8jgZHlV9UMI| archive-date=7 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=George Galloway asked 'Are You A Racist' at the Oxford Union|publisher=Oxford Union|via=YouTube|date=26 October 2013|access-date=24 December 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Declaring an "Israel-free zone", 2014===
On 2 August 2014, during the [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict]], Galloway delivered a speech at a public meeting in Leeds.<!-- Unlike HP, some other sources suggest this was a meeting of Respect activists. This is incorrect, the pre-publicity clearly indicated the meeting was open to all. --><ref name="Vale">{{cite news|last=Vale|first=Paul|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/07/george-galloway-investigated-by-yorkshire-police-over-declaration-of-bradford-as-an-israel-free-zone_n_5659328.html|title=George Galloway Investigated By Police Over Declaration Of Bradford As An 'Israel-Free Zone'|work=HuffPost|date=7 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="Judah">{{cite web | title=Is Bradford's 'Israel-free Zone' the New Face of Banlieue Britain? | website=The Tablet | date=6 March 2015 | author=[[Ben Judah]]| url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/a-polite-hatred-2-bradford-galloway | access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref> He said:

{{cquote|We have declared Bradford an Israel-free zone. We don't want any Israeli goods, we don't want any Israeli services, we don't want any Israeli academics coming to the university or the college, we don't even want any Israeli tourists to come to Bradford even if any of them had thought of doing so. We reject this illegal, barbarous, savage state that calls itself Israel. And you have to do the same.<ref name="Rawlinson">{{cite news|last=Rawlinson|first=Kevin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/george-galloway-investigated-police-bradford-israel-free-zone|title=George Galloway investigated by police for saying Bradford an 'Israel-free zone'|work=The Guardian|date=7 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="Judah"/>}}

Galloway's remarks drew sharp criticism from British politicians and Jewish leaders. [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP and pro-Israel campaigner [[Robert Halfon]] described Galloway's words as an "ill-considered rant that will cause great offence to many" while adding that "most [[Bradford]] citizens are like British people as a whole: tolerant and decent – and will ignore Mr Galloway's demands, treating them with the contempt they deserve."<ref name="BBC070814">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28687233|title=Galloway under investigation over Israel remarks|work=BBC News|date=7 August 2014}}</ref> [[Jonathan Arkush]], then vice-president of the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]] stated that Galloway "is so intolerant he can't bear to have someone with an opposing view in his town".<ref name=Israelienvoy /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.609515|title=U.K. MP Galloway probed for declaring Bradford an 'Israel-free zone'|work=Haaretz|date=7 August 2014}}</ref>

[[Daniel Taub]], the Israeli ambassador to the UK, visited Bradford on 18 August in response to an invitation, where he met with local councillors, faith leaders and community representatives.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/19/israel-geroge-galloway-bradford-ambassador_n_5690556.html|title=Israeli Ambassador Pays A Visit To George Galloway's 'Israel-Free Zone'|work=HuffPost|date=19 August 2014}}</ref> In an interview, Taub commented that his visit was proof that "the people of Bradford [have] sent a clear message that George Galloway does not represent them."<ref>{{cite news|last=Whitehouse|first=Paul|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/bradford/11417368.print/|title=Israeli ambassador visits Bradford to answer Galloway comments|work=Telegraph & Argus|location=Bradford|date=18 August 2014}}</ref> Galloway told a reporter from the [[BuzzFeed]] website: "As has just been proved, I cannot make Bradford an Israel-free zone, but I am certain that the Israeli ambassador was not welcome."<ref name=Israelienvoy>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-envoy-to-britain-visits-israel-free-zone/|title=Israeli envoy to Britain visits 'Israel-free zone'|work=The Times of Israel|date=19 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Waterson|first=Jim|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/george-galloway-attacks-israeli-ambassador-for-visiting-brad|title=George Galloway Attacks Israeli Ambassador For Visiting Bradford's 'Israeli-Free Zone'|work=BuzzFeed|date=19 August 2015}}</ref> Galloway accused the councillors who had invited the ambassador of fraternising with a "mouthpiece for murder".<ref>{{cite news|last=Kalmus|first=Jonathan|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121590/ambassador-turns-bradford-israeli|title=Ambassador turns Bradford Israeli|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=21 August 2014}}</ref>

[[West Yorkshire Police]] investigated two complaints to determine if Galloway's words constituted [[Hate speech laws in the United Kingdom|hate speech]] (British law prohibits discrimination based on nationality).<ref name="Rawlinson" /><ref name="BBC070814" /> Galloway was questioned under caution by the police and the matter was referred to the [[Crown Prosecution Service]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-28861448|title=George Galloway MP questioned by police over Israel speech|work=BBC News|date=10 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=Mancharged>{{cite news|url=http://www.jta.org/2014/08/31/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/man-charged-in-religiously-motivated-assault-on-british-lawmaker-george-Galloway|title=Man charged in religiously motivated assault on British lawmaker George Galloway|publisher=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]|date=31 August 2014}}</ref> Galloway subsequently criticised the police investigation, describing it as "an absolute and despicable attempt to curb my freedom of speech".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/george-galloway-quizzed-by-police-over-israel-speech.1408519031|title=George Galloway: I won't be silenced|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|date=20 August 2014}}</ref> In October 2014, it emerged that Galloway would not be prosecuted for his comments on the grounds of "insufficient evidence", although West Yorkshire Police had "recorded this matter as a hate incident."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/bradford-mp-george-galloway-escapes-criminal-charges-over-anti-israel-speech-in-leeds-1-6897569|title=Bradford MP George Galloway escapes criminal charges over anti-Israel speech in Leeds|work=Yorkshire Post|date=15 October 2014}}</ref>

On 29 August 2014, Galloway was assaulted in Notting Hill by Neil Masterson, a convert to [[Judaism]],<ref name="Telegraph111214">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11286954/George-Galloway-attacker-Neil-Masterson-jailed.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11286954/George-Galloway-attacker-Neil-Masterson-jailed.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=George Galloway attacker Neil Masterson jailed |date=11 December 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="BBC300814">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-28994862|title=George Galloway leaves hospital after London street attack|work=BBC News|date=30 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="Wilcock">{{cite news|last=Wilcock|first=David|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/george-galloway-left-scared-to-go-out-alone-as-street-attacker-jailed-for-16-months-9919057.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141212013717/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/george-galloway-left-scared-to-go-out-alone-as-street-attacker-jailed-for-16-months-9919057.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2014|title=George Galloway left 'scared to go out alone' as street attacker jailed for 16 months|work=The Independent|date=11 December 2014}}</ref> and suffered a bruised rib and severe bruising on his head and face.<ref name="BBC300814" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Lewis|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/george-galloway-attacked-on-notting-hill-street-by-man-shouting-about-the-holocaust-9700883.html|title=George Galloway left with severe bruising after attack in Notting Hill by man 'shouting about the Holocaust'|work=The Independent|date=29 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="BBC290814">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28992601|title=George Galloway taken to hospital after street attack|work=BBC News|date=30 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Martin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/29/george-galloway-injured-london-street-attack|title=George Galloway badly injured in street attack|work=The Guardian|date=29 August 2014}}</ref> Masterson was charged with religiously aggravated assault<ref>{{cite news|last=Rawlinson|first=Kevin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/30/george-galloway-released-hospital-assault|title=Man charged over George Galloway assault|work=The Guardian|date=30 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Jerry|url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Alleged-attacker-of-controversial-British-MP-Galloway-faces-court-today-373048|title=Alleged attacker of controversial British MP Galloway faces court today|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=1 September 2014}}</ref> and sentenced to 16 months in prison.<ref name="Wilcock" /> Released from prison in September 2015, he soon returned to jail for a month after breaking a restraining order forbidding him from contacting Galloway. Masterson was also fined for harassment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/george-galloway-has-punchable-face-says-attacker-1-3929173|title=George Galloway has 'punchable face', says attacker|work=The Scotsman|date=27 October 2015|access-date=29 October 2015}}</ref>

On 13 October 2014, Galloway abstained from a vote in the House of Commons formally recognising Palestine because the motion included the recognition of Israel as well. On the Respect website he advocated a one-state solution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.respectparty.org/2014/10/10/statement-from-george-galloway-on-palestine-motion-in-parliament|title=Statement from George Galloway on Parliament Palestine motion|publisher=Respect Party|date=10 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101215823/http://www.respectparty.org/2014/10/10/statement-from-george-galloway-on-palestine-motion-in-parliament/|archive-date=1 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10/13/palestine-statehood-vote-parliament-recognise-britain_n_5976472.html|title=Palestine Statehood Vote: Parliament To Argue For Recognition From UK|work=HuffPost|date=13 October 2014}}</ref>

===General election 2015===
During a hustings meeting in Galloway's Bradford West constituency on 8 April during the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] heated exchanges occurred between Galloway and the Labour candidate, [[Naz Shah]]. Galloway accused her of lying about her [[forced marriage]] which had been the subject of an open letter written by Shah and released to the media after her selection as a candidate.<ref name="BBC100415">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32259901|title=Election 2015: George Galloway broke election law, Labour claims|work=BBC News|date=10 April 2015}}</ref> He said Shah was in error in claiming she was "subject to a forced marriage at the age of 15. But you were not 15. You were 16-and-a-half". He then produced what he said was her ''nikah'', a Muslim marriage certificate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Selby|first=Jenn|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/george-galloway-accuses-labour-candidate-naz-shah-of-lying-about-her-forced-marriage-10164429.html|title=George Galloway: Respect MP accuses Labour candidate Naz Shah of lying about her forced marriage|work=The Independent|date=9 April 2015}}</ref>

Shah alleged at the event that Galloway's representative in [[Pakistan]] impersonated her deceased father to acquire the ''nikah''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Henderson|first=Hannah|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-32233892|title=George Galloway's accusations over opponent's forced marriage|work=BBC News|date=9 April 2015}}</ref> Ron McKay, Galloway's spokesman, said that there was no dishonesty in gaining access to the document via an intermediary in Pakistan.<ref name="Pidd091415">{{cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/09/george-galloway-naz-shah-forced-marriage-nikah-bradford-hustings|title=George Galloway accuses Naz Shah of lying about her forced marriage|work=The Guardian|date=9 April 2015}}</ref> Labour supplied media outlets with a copy of Shah's ''nikah'' which confirms that she was 15 at the time of her forced marriage.<ref name="Pidd130415" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Rhys|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/12885061.War_of_words_intensifies_between_Bradford_West_candidates/|title=War of words intensifies between Bradford West candidates|work=Telegraph & Argus|location=Bradford|date=12 April 2015}}</ref> By her own account, Shah was raped during the marriage, but in an email to [[Helen Pidd]], ''The Guardian''{{'}}s northern editor, McKay disputed whether it had been a forced marriage at all.<ref name="Pidd130415">{{cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/13/george-galloway-battle-for-bradford-west-respect-general-election|title=George Galloway divides opinion in battle for Bradford West|work=The Guardian|date=13 April 2015}}</ref>

Galloway accused Shah of favouring Israel. At one point during the campaign, Galloway tweeted a picture of Israelis waving Israeli flags with the caption "Thank you for electing Naz Shah". The image was juxtaposed with another, showing Palestinians celebrating his own supposedly imminent victory.<ref name="Pidd080515">{{cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/08/george-galloway-loses-bradford-west-seat-labour-naz-shah-respect|title=George Galloway loses Bradford West seat to Labour's Naz Shah|work=The Guardian|date=8 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bindel|first=Julie|url=http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/6024/full|title=The Bitter Battle for the Soul Of Bradford West|work=Standpoint|date=May 2015|access-date=11 May 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518071233/http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/6024/full|url-status=dead}}</ref> Shah said she has participated in marches supporting the Palestinian cause.<ref name="Pidd080515" />

Galloway was defeated at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]].<ref name="BBC080515">{{cite news|date=8 May 2015|title=Respect leader George Galloway 'broke election law'|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-32638176|access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref> Naz Shah won a majority of 11,420 votes over him, reversing the majority of 10,000 votes he had gained at the by-election three years earlier.<ref name="Duggan">{{cite news|last=Duggan|first=Emily|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-galloway-facing-defeat-as-tactics-backfire-in-bradford-10234486.html|title=George Galloway defeated by Labour's Naz Shah as tactics backfire in Bradford|work=The Independent|date=8 May 2015|access-date=15 July 2016}}</ref>

On 10 May 2015, Galloway announced an intention to challenge the result, alleging that false statements and malpractice related to [[Postal voting|postal votes]] during the campaign meant that the result of the election should be set aside,<ref name="BBC100515">{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32685844 | title=George Galloway to challenge Bradford West election result | work=BBC News | date=10 May 2015 | access-date=11 May 2015}}</ref> but did not do so.<ref>{{cite news|first=Helen |last=Pidd |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/04/george-galloway-election-defeat-petition-deadline-expires |title=Deadline expires for legal challenge over George Galloway election defeat|work=The Guardian|date= 4 June 2015}}</ref> The [[Fawcett Society]] expressed concern that "the continued opposition of the unsuccessful [[Respect Party]] candidate George Galloway, to Shah's election is the culmination of a sexist electoral campaign by Galloway".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/Blog/george-galloways-sexist-campaign-against-naz-shah|title=On George Galloway's sexist campaign against Naz Shah|work=Fawcett Society|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> In July 2015, [[Jeremy Corbyn]] said he thought "...{{nbsp}}the tactics he used against our candidate, were appalling. I was quite shocked; it was appalling."<ref>{{cite news|last=Cowley|first=Jason|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/07/jeremy-corbyn-interview-i-think-we-have-think-terms-disillusioned-who-didn-t|title=Jeremy Corbyn: 'I think we have to think in terms of the disillusioned who didn't vote'|work=New Statesman|date=29 July 2015|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref>

It emerged in January 2017 that Galloway's reimbursed expense claim for the rent of his constituency office in Bradford West has been forwarded by the [[Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority]] (IPSA) to the [[Metropolitan Police]], which was then at the early assessment stage.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Dominic|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/galloway-faces-police-inquiry-over-expenses-59j6k2n3v|title=Galloway faces police inquiry over expenses|work=The Times|location=London|date=13 January 2017|access-date=13 January 2017}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

==Other developments (2015–2023)==
During his unsuccessful 2015 general election campaign to be re-elected for Bradford West, Galloway announced that he would stand in the election for [[2016 London mayoral election|London mayor in 2016]] if he lost,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1470829/galloway-i-will-run-for-mayor-if-mp-bid-fails|title=Galloway: I Will Run For Mayor If MP Bid Fails|publisher=Sky News|date=23 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Withnall|first=Adam|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/george-galloway-will-run-to-replace-boris-johnson-as-london-mayor-if-he-fails-to-get-reelected-as-bradford-west-mp-10198667.html|title=George Galloway 'will run to replace Boris Johnson as London Mayor' if he fails to get re-elected as Bradford West MP|work=The Independent|date=23 April 2015}}</ref> an intention he confirmed on Twitter on 28 May.<ref>{{cite news|last=Peyer|first=Robin de|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/george-galloway-announces-plan-to-run-for-london-mayor-10281834.html|title=George Galloway announces plan to run for London Mayor|work=London Evening Standard|date=28 May 2015}}</ref> Dave Hill, writing for ''The Guardian'' in November 2015, accused Galloway of making "cutting personal attacks" about the Labour candidate [[Sadiq Khan]], a Muslim whom "Galloway{{nbsp}}... appears to consider{{nbsp}}... an inadequate practitioner of his faith" (a reference to Galloway's remark that Khan held the Quran in his left, not right, hand, and it "wasn't missed by people who care about these things").<ref name="Hill251115">{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Dave|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/davehillblog/2015/nov/25/george-galloway-if-i-was-jeremy-corbyn-id-want-me-to-be-london-mayor|title=George Galloway: if I was Jeremy Corbyn I'd want me to be London mayor|work=The Guardian|date=25 November 2015|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="Edwardes">{{cite news|last=Edwardes|first=Charlotte|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/george-galloway-i-ve-always-fancied-being-mayor-and-next-year-i-finally-could-be-a3106411.html|title=George Galloway: I've always fancied being mayor – and next year I finally could be|work=London Evening Standard|date=4 November 2015|access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref> In the final result, Galloway came seventh with 37,007 (1.4%) first preference votes. After second preference were accounted for, Sadiq Khan became mayor of London.<ref>{{cite news|date=7 May 2016|title=London Elections 2016, Candidates & Results|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2016/london/results|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref>

[[File:George Galloway poster.jpg|thumb|George Galloway poster in [[Longsight]] in 2017]]

In July 2015, Galloway endorsed Jeremy Corbyn's [[2015 Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party leadership campaign|campaign]] in the [[2015 Labour Party (UK) leadership election|Labour Party leadership election]].<ref name="Hill251115" /> He [[Twitter|tweeted]]: "Congratulations to Jeremy Corbyn MP and good fortune in the labour leadership contest. If he wins it will change everything{{nbsp}}..."<ref name="spectator">{{cite magazine |url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2015/07/friends-reunited-how-george-galloway-hopes-to-work-closely-with-jeremy-corbyn/|title=Friends reunited: how George Galloway hopes to 'work closely' with Jeremy Corbyn|magazine=[[The Spectator]]|date=28 July 2015|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> He also said that he would become a Labour Party member "pretty damn quick" if Corbyn was elected as Labour leader.<ref name="Edwardes" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Doug|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-galloway-says-he-will-re-join-labour-pretty-damn-quick-if-jeremy-corbyn-becomes-leader-10429016.html|title=George Galloway says he will re-join Labour 'pretty damn quick' if Jeremy Corbyn becomes leader|work=The Independent|date=30 July 2015|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref> Less than a week after Corbyn became leader, a Labour <!-- Form used in the source. -->spokeswoman told ''[[The Times]]'': "George Galloway has not applied to rejoin the Labour party and he will not be receiving an invitation."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fisher|first1=Lucy|last2=Cowburn|first2=Ashley|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4560336.ece|title=Labour tells Galloway he isn't welcome|work=The Times|location=London|date=18 September 2015|access-date=11 April 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Corbyn himself said in July 2015 during an interview with ''New Statesman'' editor [[Jason Cowley (journalist)|Jason Cowley]] that he was appalled at the tactics Galloway used while defending his seat against Naz Shah (Labour) during the general election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cowley|first=Jason|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/07/jeremy-corbyn-interview-i-think-we-have-think-terms-disillusioned-who-didn-t|title=Jeremy Corbyn: 'I think we have to think in terms of the disillusioned who didn't vote'|work=New Statesman|date=29 July 2015|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref> In an interview to ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' journalist Paul Waugh in December 2015, Corbyn said that Galloway's readmission to the party was a decision not within his powers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waugh|first=Paul|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/12/20/jeremy-corbyn-signals-lab_0_n_8849300.html|title=Jeremy Corbyn Signals Labour Party Members Could Have Direct Say Over Trident Policy; George Galloway And Reselection Rules 'Up to The Party To Decide'|work=HuffPost|date=21 December 2015|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>

Following [[Ken Livingstone]]'s much criticised comments in late April 2016 concerning [[Adolf Hitler]] and Zionism, Galloway supported Livingstone's argument.<ref name=IndyLivingstone>{{cite news|last=Staufenberg|first=Jess|title=George Galloway has defended Ken Livingstone's Hitler comments as 'historical fact'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-antisemitism-row-george-galloway-ken-livingstone-hitler-comments-historical-fact-a7006321.html|access-date=29 April 2016|work=The Independent|date=29 April 2016}}</ref> Galloway disputed that Livingstone's comments were antisemitic.<ref name=IndyLivingstone /> "The [[Israel lobby in the United Kingdom|Israel lobby]] has just destroyed the Labour Party", he tweeted in May 2016. "It is an amazing achievement".<ref>{{cite news|last=Hirsh|first=David|url=https://www.thejc.com/comment/analysis/there-is-a-serious-problem-among-uk-opinion-formers-1.56504|title=There is a serious problem among UK opinion formers|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=6 May 2016|access-date=12 March 2017}}</ref>

In July 2016, Galloway endorsed Corbyn's campaign in the [[2016 Labour Party (UK) leadership election|Labour Party leadership election]]. He said: "If Corbyn wins a big victory – and I think he will – then that should be, and it's important that it is, the final burial of [[Tony Blair|Blair]] and [[Blairism]]."<ref name="independent">{{cite news |last=Aftab|first=Kaleem|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-galloway-on-his-documentary-film-the-killing-of-tony-blair-it-s-a-considered-narrative-not-an-a7156986.html|title=George Galloway on his documentary film The Killing$ of Tony Blair: 'It's a considered narrative, not an angry tirade'|work=[[The Independent]]|date=26 July 2016|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

The Respect Party "voluntarily deregistered" from the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] on 18 August 2016.<ref name="Fenton">{{cite news|last=Fenton|first=Siobhan|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-galloway-respect-party-deregisters-labour-jeremy-corbyn-member-a7202191.html|title=George Galloway's Respect Party deregisters, prompting speculation politician may rejoin Labour|work=The Independent|date=21 August 2016|access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP362|title=Registration summary|publisher=Electoral Commission|date=18 August 2016|access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref>

It was announced on 21 March 2017 that Galloway was standing as an independent candidate at the [[2017 Manchester Gorton by-election|Manchester Gorton by-election]] set for 4 May, following the death of Sir [[Gerald Kaufman]] in February. Gorton had been one of Labour's safest seats at the 2015 general election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/21/george-galloway-to-contest-manchester-gorton-byelection|title=George Galloway to contest Manchester Gorton byelection|work=The Guardian|date=21 March 2017|access-date=21 March 2017}}</ref> The by-election was cancelled following the announcement of the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 snap general election]] being held on 8 June. Galloway subsequently transferred his candidacy to the general election. At the election, Labour easily retained the seat; Galloway came a distant third with 5.7% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000808|title=Manchester Gorton|work=BBC News|date=9 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017}}</ref>

In the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], Galloway contested the Parliamentary seat of [[West Bromwich East (UK Parliament constituency)|West Bromwich East]] as an independent, describing himself as supportive of Corbyn's leadership but also supportive of Brexit.<ref name="LabourList">{{cite news|last1=Rodgers|first1=Sienna|date=9 November 2019|title=Ibrahim Dogus replaces Tom Watson as Labour's West Bromwich East candidate|work=LabourList|url=https://labourlist.org/2019/11/ibrahim-dogus-replaces-tom-watson-as-labours-west-bromwich-east-candidate/|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref> He came 6th with 489 votes.<ref>{{cite news |title=West Bromwich East |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14001029 |website=BBC |access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref>

On 14 December, Galloway launched the [[Workers Party of Britain]], which describes itself as "economically radical with an independent foreign policy" and "unequivocally committed to class politics".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18104403.former-bradford-mp-george-galloway-launches-new-workers-party/|title=Former Bradford MP George Galloway launches new 'Workers Party'|last=Macnamara|first=Felicity|date=16 December 2019|access-date=12 January 2020|work=Telegraph & Argus}}</ref> Galloway is the party's leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://workerspartybritain.org/about/|title=Introducing the Workers Party|date=12 December 2019|website=Workers Party of Britain|access-date=15 December 2019}}</ref><ref>[http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP11382 Workers Party of Britain] Electoral Commission Register of Political Parties</ref>

On 16 November 2020 Galloway announced his intention to stand in the expected by-election in [[Rutherglen and Hamilton West (UK Parliament constituency)|Rutherglen and Hamilton West]], after sitting MP [[Margaret Ferrier]] was accused of breaching COVID-19 regulations, for which she faces a possible recall petition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-MP Galloway sets his sights on one more parliamentary battle - a by-election in Rutherglen|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18876175.ex-mp-george-galloway-sets-sights-one-parliamentary-battle---by-election-rutherglen/|access-date=19 November 2020|website=The Herald|date=16 November 2020 }}</ref>

He led [[All for Unity]] in the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]]<ref name=":0">{{cite news|date=14 July 2020|title=Could a new independence party reshape Scottish politics?|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53402456|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref> and announced his intention to vote for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] on the constituency vote, and for his own party on the list vote. This contradicted several other occasions in which he said voting Conservative was something he would never even consider.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Galloway to vote Tory despite saying he would sooner 'poke his eyes out'|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19126273.george-galloway-vote-tory-try-stop-scottish-independence/|date=1 March 2021|access-date=2 March 2021|website=The National}}</ref> All for Unity received 23,299 votes in the election, or 0.9%, placing the party 7th nationally and giving them zero seats.

On 27 May 2021, Galloway announced his intention to stand for the [[2021 Batley and Spen by-election]].<ref>{{cite web|date=27 May 2021|title=Ex-Labour MP George Galloway joins Batley and Spen byelection race|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/27/ex-labour-mp-george-galloway-joins-batley-and-spen-byelection-race|access-date=27 May 2021|website=The Guardian}}</ref> The Labour campaign accused Galloway's campaign of aggressive and intimidatory tactics during the by-election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jul/01/galloway-bid-for-batley-and-spen-seat-mired-in-intimidation-claims |title=Galloway bid for Batley and Spen seat mired in intimidation claims |last=Wolfe-Robinson |first=Maya |website=The Guardian |date=1 July 2021 |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/02/george-galloway-batley-and-spen-byelection |title=George Galloway doesn't 'sow division'. He sprays it everywhere |last=Hyde |first=Marina |website=The Guardian |date=2 July 2021 |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref> Galloway came third with 21.8% of the vote, and said he would challenge the outcome of the election in court, as he said lies were told about him during the election campaign.<ref>{{cite web|date=2 July 2021|title=George Galloway says he will take legal action to challenge by-election defeat|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-galloway-batley-and-spen-by-election-result-legal-challenge-b1876823.html|access-date=2 July 2021|website=The Independent}}</ref>

In mid-May 2022, Galloway, who ran in neighbouring Batley and Spen in a 2021 by-election, posted a video saying that he might "put my own hat in the ring" and run in the [[2022 Wakefield by-election]] for the [[Workers Party of Britain]], while criticising Labour's candidate selection process. However, Galloway stated that he would prefer for a local candidate amongst the Labour ranks to stand.<ref name=":1" />

==MP for Rochdale (2024–present)==
[[File:George Galloway, Rochdale by-election 2.png|thumb|Galloway making his post-declaration speech at the 2024 Rochdale by-election count]]
In January 2024, Galloway announced that he would stand in the [[2024 Rochdale by-election|Rochdale by-election]] the following month, again for the Workers Party of Britain.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 January 2024|title=George Galloway throws his hat into the ring for Rochdale by-election to 'teach Labour a lesson'|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/george-galloway-throws-hat-ring-28524793|access-date=27 January 2024 |work=Manchester Evening News|first=William|last=Morgan}}</ref> He was elected in a [[political upset]] after Azhar Ali, the Labour candidate, lost the support of his party due to comments made regarding the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|Hamas-led attack on Israel]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Castle |first=Stephen |date=2024-03-01 |title=George Galloway, Leftist Firebrand, Wins U.K. Seat in Blow to Labour Party |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/world/europe/george-galloway-rochdale-by-election.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Courea |first1=Eleni |last2=Adu |first2=Aletha |date=2024-02-12 |title=Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate after Israel-Gaza remarks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/12/labour-withdraws-support-for-rochdale-candidate-after-israel-gaza-remarks |access-date=2024-02-12 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Galloway won almost 40% of the vote and overturned a Labour majority of 9,668.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grunewald |first1=Zoe |title=George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election after Labour fiasco and declares: 'This is for Gaza' |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/george-galloway-wins-rochdale-election-030302665.html|website=Yahoo News |access-date=1 March 2024 |language=en-AU |date=1 March 2024}}</ref> The [[Israel–Hamas war]] dominated the campaign. In his election speech, Galloway said "[[Keir Starmer]], this is for Gaza. You will pay a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Gaza, in the Gaza Strip".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halliday |first1=Josh |last2=Ahmed |first2=Aneesa |title=George Galloway wins sweeping victory in Rochdale byelection, saying 'this is for Gaza' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/01/george-galloway-wins-rochdale-byelection |website=The Guardian |access-date=1 March 2024 |date=1 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Residents of Rochdale caught up in increasingly toxic by-election campaign |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d6678003-7d84-44a6-aad1-801760d6cf06 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Halliday | first1=Josh | last2=Ahmed | first2=Aneesa | title=George Galloway wins Rochdale byelection after calling for Gaza protest vote | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | date=1 March 2024 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/01/george-galloway-wins-rochdale-byelection | access-date=1 March 2024}}</ref> Alluding to the size of his win, over the Labour and Conservative candidates, he said, "Keir Starmer and [[Rishi Sunak]] are two cheeks of the same backside and they both got well and truly spanked tonight here in Rochdale."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68443430|title=Rochdale by-election: Landslide win for George Galloway|date=1 March 2024|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

==Positions on domestic and international issues==
[[File:George Galloway MPH Rally.jpg|thumb|upright|Galloway signing an [[Refugee|asylum seekers]] petition, sitting on the edge of the [[Stop the War Coalition|StWC]] stage at the 2005 [[Make Poverty History]] rally.]]
In a 2012 article for ''The Telegraph'', George Grant wrote that Galloway "has built his entire career on the crude but simple philosophy that "[[The enemy of my enemy is my friend|my enemy's enemy is my friend]]". His enemy, like so many on the far Left, is of course his own government".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grant |first1=George |title=George Galloway is no friend of the Arab world |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9176710/George-Galloway-is-no-friend-of-the-Arab-world.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=30 March 2012}}</ref> Galloway told ''[[The Independent on Sunday]]'' in June 2012: "I am not a [[pacifist]]. I am a revolutionary. I am a [[Socialist]] who doesn't like [[Capitalism]] and who likes [[Imperialism]] less. ... I support the armed struggle where there is no alternative".<ref>{{cite news|last=Chalmers|first=Robert|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/still-standing-george-galloway-reveals-why-his-staunchly-leftist-outlook-is-still-invariably-right-7848557.html|title=Still standing: George Galloway reveals why his staunchly Leftist outlook is still invariably right|work=The Independent on Sunday|date=17 June 2012}}</ref> In a 2002 interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', Galloway said he had supported the [[Soviet Union]] and said that its end was "the biggest catastrophe of my life".<ref name="Hattenstone" /> In 2024, Galloway identified as [[Social conservatism|socially conservative]]<ref name="Telegraph, February 2024" />.

Writing for ''The Guardian'' in 2024, Michael Chessum argued that Galloway's politics had shifted in the latter half of the 2010s, embracing [[Scottish unionism]] and [[social conservatism]] alongside more typically leftist positions, and highlighting the involvement of the socially conservative [[Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)]] in the early years of the Workers Party. Chessum likened Galloway's political evolution to that of German politician [[Sahra Wagenknecht]], a leading member of [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] who broke away to found [[Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht|her own eponymous political movement]], and who similarly espouses socially conservative positions, and anti-[[NATO]] views.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2024/mar/03/writing-off-george-galloway-ignores-his-dangerous-appeal-to-both-far-left-and-right |title=Writing off George Galloway ignores his dangerous appeal to both far left and right |last=Chessum |first=Michael |date=3 March 2024 |website=[[theguardian.com]] |access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref> 

===Opposition to Israel and Zionism===
Galloway is a staunch [[Criticism of Israel|critic of Israel]] and [[Anti-Zionism|of Zionism]]. He regards [[Israel and apartheid|Israel as an apartheid state]] committing genocide against Palestinians. In 2013, he said "I don't recognize Israel and I don't debate with Israelis". The following year, he declared Bradford an "Israel-free zone".

During the [[Gaza War (2008–2009)]], Galloway said in a speech at [[Trafalgar Square]] on 3 January 2009: "Today, the Palestinian people in Gaza are the new [[Warsaw Ghetto]], and those who are murdering them are the equivalent of those who murdered the Jews in Warsaw in 1943".<ref name="Rausing">{{cite news|last=Rausing|first=Sigrid|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/middle-east/2009/04/israel-ghetto-palestinian-anti|title=The code for conspiracy|work=New Statesman|date=23 April 2009}}</ref> [[Jonathan Freedland]] in ''The Guardian'' commented that "the effect of repeating, again and again, that Israel is a Nazi state" was, potentially, an incitement to attack Jews because the comparison with Nazis as "the embodiment of evil" implies that "the only appropriate response is hate".<ref>{{cite news|last=Freedland|first=Jonathan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/feb/04/gaza-jewish-community|title=As British Jews come under attack, the liberal left must not remain silent|work=The Guardian|date=4 February 2009}}</ref> [[Sigrid Rausing]] wrote in the ''[[New Statesman]]'': "The claim of moral equivalence is dangerous, not because it exaggerates the horror of Gaza (the reality of that bombardment was probably worse than we can really imagine), but because it minimises the horror of the [[Holocaust]]."<ref name="Rausing" />

In an interview with the American radio host and conspiracy theorist [[Alex Jones (radio host)|Alex Jones]] in September 2005, Galloway said: "This is the thing about Zionism. It has nothing to do with Jewishness. Some of the biggest Zionists in the world are not [[Jews]]. These people have used Jewish people.{{nbsp}}... They created the conditions in the Arab countries and in some European countries to stampede Jewish people out of the countries that they had been living in for many hundreds of years and stampede them into the Zionist state".<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Khatan|url=http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/?content_id=1655|title=Galloway Blasts Israel|publisher=Totally Jewish.com|date=30 September 2005|access-date=19 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619003100/http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/?content_id=1655|archive-date=19 June 2012}}</ref>

During an interview for Al Jazeera television on 17 November 2005, he said his election as MP earlier in the year was "despite all the efforts made by the British government, the Zionist movement and the newspapers and news media which are controlled by Zionism".<ref>{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Sholem|url=http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/?content_id=2144|title=Galloway Under Fire After TV Slur|publisher=TotallyJewish.com|date=1 December 2005|access-date=19 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907045822/http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/?content_id=2144|archive-date=7 September 2013}}</ref> In ''[[Trials of the Diaspora]]: A History of Anti-Semitism in England'', [[Anthony Julius]] cites this interview as one example of Galloway pandering to the [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] prejudices of his audience. According to Julius, Galloway merely refers to the "right-wing press" in the British media, whereas he has the habit of adding the word "Zionist" when speaking on television in the Arab world.<ref>{{cite book|last=Julius|first=Anthony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHAVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA530|title=Trials of the Diaspora: A History of Anti-Semitism in England|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2010|pages=530–31, 761–62|isbn=9780199600724}}</ref> A few years later, in a May 2009 speech given at a meeting in Westminster,<!-- NOTE: Not in the House of Commons. --> Galloway said: "I do not agree with the argument that there is a shadowy Jewish influence. Israel is doing what America wants it to do and to argue otherwise is to go down the dark tunnel of racist antisemitism".<ref>{{cite web|first=Bernard|last=Josephs|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/anti-israel-camp-split-zionist-conspiracy|title=Anti-Israel camp split on 'Zionist conspiracy'|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=7 May 2009|access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref>

Galloway criticized the British government's support of Israel during the [[Israel–Hamas war]] and condemned the [[Allegations of genocide in the 2023 Israeli attack on Gaza|alleged genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway who campaigned against Gaza war wins UK by-election |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/1/uk-politician-galloway-who-campaigned-against-gaza-war-wins-by-election |work=Al Jazeera |date=1 March 2024}}</ref> Galloway disputed reports from the Israeli government about the [[2023 Hamas attack on Israel|7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel]]. Specifically, he disputed the number of babies killed and suggested two-thirds of those killed [[Hannibal Directive|were from the IDF]]. He also suggested that those who propagate the official Israeli government account of 7 October are "war criminals".<ref>{{cite web |date=11 November 2023 |title=Believing Israeli accounts of Oct. 7 makes you a war criminal - ex-UK MP |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-772775 |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com }}</ref>

The [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]], the largest Jewish community organization in the UK, has called Galloway "a demagogue and conspiracy theorist."<ref>{{cite news |title=Veteran British left-wing disruptor George Galloway wins a special election dominated by war in Gaza |url=https://apnews.com/article/britain-gaza-israel-george-galloway-election-rochdale-d81f0a1674b342e71a228b5d76d35563 |work=Associated Press |date=1 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway sweeps to victory in Rochdale byelection |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/01/george-galloway-wins-rochdale-byelection |work=The Guardian |date=1 March 2024}}</ref> According to [[Jonathan Freedland]] writing in ''The Guardian'', Galloway's critics have made an "unmerited charge ... that he is somehow uniquely guilty of exploiting the pain of Gaza for political gain".<ref>{{cite news |title=
George Galloway stands accused of profiting from the pain of Gaza – and rightly so. But he is not the only one |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/01/george-galloway-profiting-pain-gaza-rochdale |work=The Guardian |date=1 March 2024}}</ref>

===Support for Hezbollah and Hamas===
At a 22 July 2006 demonstration (and later in a ''[[Socialist Worker]]'' op-ed), Galloway stated that "[[Hezbollah|Hizbollah]] is not and has never been a terrorist organisation. It is the legitimate national resistance movement of Lebanon".<ref name="Galloway290706">{{cite web|last=Galloway|first=George|url=http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=9334 |title=Hizbollah is right to fight Zionist terror|work=Socialist Worker|issue=2011|date=29 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305175223/http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=9334|archive-date=5 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Julius574">[https://books.google.com/books?id=sHAVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA574 Julius], p. 574. Julius quotes from Galloway's ''Socialist Worker'' article.</ref> He further said: "The [[1982 Lebanon War|invasion of Lebanon by Israel]], for that's what it is, is a monstrous injustice. I side with the resistance to that injustice. Hizbollah is leading that resistance. ... I glorify the Hizbollah national resistance movement, and I glorify the leader of Hizbollah, [[Hassan Nasrallah|Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah]]".<ref name="Galloway290706" /><ref name="Julius574" /> 

In 2009, Galloway received a [[Palestinian Authority passport|Palestinian passport]] from [[Hamas]] leader [[Ismail Haniya]]. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organisation by [[Israel]], the [[European Union]], UK, and the US.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7939480.stm|title=UK MP given Palestinian passport|work=BBC News|date=12 March 2009|access-date=3 May 2010}}</ref> He was reportedly denied entry into Canada on national security grounds, with [[Alykhan Velshi]], then a spokesman for Canada's minister of immigration and citizenship, commenting: "We're going to uphold the law, not give special treatment to this infandous street-corner Cromwell who actually brags about giving 'financial support' to Hamas, a terrorist organisation banned in Canada."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Summers |first=Deborah |date=2009-03-20 |title=George Galloway banned from Canada |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/mar/20/george-galloway-banned-canada |access-date=2024-02-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Support for Ba'athist Iraq===
Following the [[Gulf War]], Galloway supported [[Ba'athist Iraq]] and praised Iraq's dictator [[Saddam Hussein]]. While an MP, he visited Iraq several times, meeting members of the Iraqi regime and Saddam Hussein himself. Galloway set up the [[Mariam Appeal]] to oppose [[International sanctions against Iraq]].

In a House of Commons debate on 6 March 2002, [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office|Foreign Office]] minister [[Ben Bradshaw]] said Galloway was "not just an apologist, but a mouthpiece, for the Iraqi regime over many years."<!-- Some sources use "to" rather than "for" in quoting Bradshaw, but the version given here is taken from Hansard. --><ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020306/halltext/20306h01.htm ''Hansard''], House of Commons debates, 6 March 2002, Col. 88WH</ref> Galloway called the minister a liar and refused to withdraw on the grounds that Bradshaw's claim was "a clear imputation of dishonour", and the sitting was suspended due to the dispute.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1386986/Yesterday-in-Parliament.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1386986/Yesterday-in-Parliament.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=21 August 2008|title=Yesterday in Parliament|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=7 March 2002|first=Michael|last=Kallenbach|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Bradshaw later withdrew his allegation, and Galloway apologised for using unparliamentary language.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/galloway-apologises-for-calling-minister-a-liar-1-605885|title=Galloway apologises for calling minister a liar|work=The Scotsman|date=8 March 2002}}</ref> 

In August 2002, Galloway returned to Iraq and met Saddam Hussein for a second and final time. According to Galloway, the intention of the trip was to persuade Saddam to re-admit [[Hans Blix]], and the United Nations weapons inspectors into the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=Free Speech Radio News lineup|url=http://www.fsrn.org/news/20020809_news.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040624131917/http://www.fsrn.org/news/20020809_news.html|archive-date=24 June 2004|access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref> 

In a March 2000 article in ''The Guardian'', Galloway describes himself as a supporter of the Iraqi people and the [[Ba'ath Party]], but not Saddam Hussein himself.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacAskill|first=Ewen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/mar/16/iraq.georgegalloway|title=The left's Lawrence of Arabia|work=The Guardian|date=16 March 2000}}</ref> Giving evidence in his libel case against ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' in 2004, Galloway testified that he regarded Saddam as a "bestial dictator" and would have welcomed his removal from power, but not by means of a military attack on Iraq. Galloway also pointed out that he was a prominent critic of Saddam Hussein's government in the 1980s, as well as of the role of [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s government in supporting arms sales to Iraq during the [[Iran–Iraq War]]. 

In his memoir, ''I'm Not the Only One'' (2004), Galloway wrote:<blockquote>"Just as [[Stalin]] industrialised the Soviet Union, so on a different scale Saddam plotted Iraq's own Great Leap Forward. ... He managed to keep his country together until 1991. Indeed, he is likely to have been the leader in history who came closest to creating a truly Iraqi national identity, and he developed Iraq and the living, health, social and education standards of his own people."<ref name="Hitchens2005" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Galloway|first=George|title=I'm Not the Only One|location=London|publisher=Allen Lane|year=2004|page=128}}</ref></blockquote>

In the book, Galloway also expresses the opinion that [[Kuwait]], which [[Invasion of Kuwait|Iraq invaded]], is "clearly a part of the greater Iraqi whole, stolen from the motherland by [[perfidious Albion]]". [[Christopher Hitchens]] responded that the state existed before Iraq had a name.<ref name="Hitchens2005">{{cite news|last=Hitchens|first=Christopher|date=30 May 2005|title=Unmitigated Galloway|pages=1–3|work=Weekly Standard|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/641kyjkk.asp?page=3}} This essay is reprinted in {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/christopherhitch00thom|title=Christopher Hitchens and His Critics: Terror, Iraq, and the Left|publisher=New York University Press|year=2008|isbn=9780814716861|editor1-last=Cottee|editor1-first=Simon|editor1-link=Simon Cottee|location=New York & London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/christopherhitch00thom/page/140 140]–50, 144–46, 149|editor2-last=Cushman|editor2-first=Thomas|url-access=registration}} The text of Galloway's book differs in reprints.</ref> The [[1991 Iraqi uprisings|massacres of Kurds and Shias after the 1991 Gulf War]], was according to Galloway, "a civil war that involved massive violence on both sides".<ref name="Hitchens2005" />

In 2006 a video surfaced showing Galloway greeting [[Uday Hussein]], Saddam's eldest son, with the title of "Excellency", at Uday's palace in 1999. Galloway is heard saying he will be with Uday "until the end".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/397225/galloways-pledge-to-saddams-son|title=Galloway's Pledge To Saddam's Son|access-date=23 May 2015|publisher=Sky News|date=25 January 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Laura|title=Ugly times on way for Gorgeous George|url=http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=127252006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070423224649/http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=127252006|archive-date=23 April 2007|access-date=4 August 2009|work=The Scotsman|location=Edinburgh|date=26 January 2006}}</ref> Galloway continued to praise Iraq's prime minister under Saddam, [[Tariq Aziz]]. In April 2005, on [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] during that year's general election campaign, he described Aziz as "an eminent diplomatic and intellectual person". In his opinion, Aziz was "a [[political prisoner]]" and advocated his release.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waugh|first=Paul|title=Galloway calls for Aziz to be freed|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/galloway-calls-for-aziz-to-be-freed-7268922.html|work=London Evening Standard|date=18 April 2005|access-date=16 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rageh|first=Rawya|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/galloways-pledge-to-saddam-deputy-415336.html|title=Galloway's pledge to Saddam deputy|work=The Independent on Sunday|date=10 September 2006|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>

After the Ba'ath regime was overthrown in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], Galloway defended [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)|Iraqi insurgents]] targeting Western forces. In August 2005, he praised them as "martyrs", condemned Iraqis who worked with the new security forces as "collaborators" and said it was "normal" for them to be the targets of suicide bombers.<ref name="Butcher">{{cite news|last=Butcher|first=Tim|author-link=Tim Butcher|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/1495583/Galloway-pours-petrol-on-the-flames.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/1495583/Galloway-pours-petrol-on-the-flames.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Galloway pours petrol on the flames|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 August 2005|access-date=26 December 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/galloway-praises-iraqi-insurgents-1-727287|title=Galloway praises Iraqi insurgents|work=The Scotsman|date=5 August 2005}}</ref> He said: <blockquote>"These poor Iraqis&nbsp;– ragged people, with their sandals, with their [[Kalashnikovs]], with the lightest and most basic of weapons&nbsp;– are writing the names of their cities and towns in the stars, with 145 military operations every day, which has made the country ungovernable. We don't know who they are, we don't know their names, we never saw their faces, they don't put up photographs of their martyrs, we don't know the names of their leaders".</blockquote> Galloway was challenged by the [[BBC]] but denied making the "martyrs" comment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4744685.stm |title=Galloway defends 'martyrs' remark |work=BBC News |date=5 August 2005}}</ref><ref name="Hitchens130905" />

===Syria===
====Support for Bashar al-Assad====
Galloway supported the [[Syrian occupation of Lebanon]], telling the Lebanese ''[[Daily Star (Lebanon)|Daily Star]]'' in August 2008: "Syrian troops in Lebanon maintain stability and protect the country from Israel". In the same article he expressed his opposition to [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559]], which urged the Lebanese Government to establish control over all its territory.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Glackin|first1=Michael|last2=Rasmussen|first2=Will|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=10758|title=Galloway declares support for Barghouti in PA election|work=Daily Star|location=Lebanon|date=7 December 2004|access-date=21 August 2008|archive-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090619/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=10758|url-status=dead}}</ref> When Syria did withdraw from Lebanon, Galloway objected and said the occupation had been entirely "legal"; Christopher Hitchens, citing the [[Taif Agreement|Taif Accords]] of 1989, disputed his comment.<ref name="Hitchens130905">{{cite news|last=Hitchens|first=Christopher|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2005/09/george_galloway_is_gruesome_not_gorgeous.html|title=George Galloway Is Gruesome, Not Gorgeous|work=Slate|date=13 September 2005}}</ref>

Referring to Syrian president [[Bashar al-Assad]], Galloway said during a visit to the [[Damascus University|University of Damascus]] in November 2005: "For me he is the last Arab ruler, and Syria is the last Arab country. It is the fortress of the remaining dignity of the Arabs".<ref name="Scotsman181105">{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/galloway-heaps-praise-on-syrian-regime-1-1109881|title=Galloway heaps praise on Syrian regime|work=The Scotsman|location=Edinburgh|date=18 November 2005|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> He also called Assad a "breath of fresh air".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4451848.stm|title=Galloway praises Syrian president|work=BBC News|date=19 November 2005}}</ref>

Galloway again praised the government of Assad in a leaked 2010 email to Assad's advisor [[Bouthaina Shaaban]] when asking for help in a Viva Palestina convoy, and reminded her of previous help from the Syrian government for the campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kenner|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/02/06/george-galloway-flatters-assads-media-advisor/blog_passport_full11|title=George Galloway flatters Assad's media advisor|work=Foreign Policy|date=6 February 2012|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> In the correspondence, leaked by the [[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]] hacking group, she responded: "God bless your amazing efforts and I will be honoured to be part and parcel of it".<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenwodd|first=Phoebe|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9067118/Anonymous-hackers-leak-Syrias-Bashar-al-Assads-astonishing-office-emails-discussing-Barbara-Walters.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9067118/Anonymous-hackers-leak-Syrias-Bashar-al-Assads-astonishing-office-emails-discussing-Barbara-Walters.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Hackers leak Assad's astonishing office emails|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=7 February 2012|access-date=8 January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> "I knew that I could rely on you and the last Arab country in this historic endeavour", Galloway wrote in response.<ref name="Ravid">{{cite news|last=Ravid|first=Barak|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-exclusive-organizer-of-gaza-flotilla-sought-assistance-from-assad-s-office-1.411556|title=Organizer of Gaza Flotilla Sought Assistance From Assad's Office|work=Haaretz|date=7 February 2012|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref>

Galloway said in a July 2011 interview on Hezbollah's Al-Manar station: "Bashar Assad wants reform and change, to realise the aspirations of his people". In the early stages of the [[Syrian civil war]], when Assad was reported as "perpetrating massacres of his own people", Galloway said Assad's opponents were "trying to pressure Syria and President Assad because of the good things that he did, such as supporting Palestinian and Lebanese resistance and rejecting to surrender to Israel".<ref name="Ravid" />

====Syrian civil war (2011–present)====
A month later, in an August 2011 piece for the Al Jazeera website, Galloway wrote he "was never close to the Syrian regime" and acknowledged its "authoritarian character, its police state mentality", and the "rampant" corruption "much of it concentrated around his [Assad's] own family".<ref name="Galloway0811">{{cite news|last=Galloway|first=George|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/08/20118159535828664.html|title=Syria left vulnerable by state violence|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=15 August 2011|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> "I fully support the Syrian revolution", Galloway told Christopher Silvester in November 2012. "I want to see the end of all the dictatorships in the Middle East and I hope that it can be achieved peacefully. But if peaceful change is not possible, then violent change is inevitable. I wholly support the Syrian people's demands for democratic government. I just don't support armed intervention in Syria, any more than I supported it in any other country in the region".<ref>{{cite news|last=Silvester|first=Christopher|url=http://www.lady.co.uk/people/5676-i-ve-had-a-good-series-of-wars|title='I've had a good series of wars'|work=The Lady|date=30 November 2012|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064517/http://www.lady.co.uk/people/5676-i-ve-had-a-good-series-of-wars|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2013, Galloway criticised [[David Cameron]]'s government for [[Timber Sycamore|arming Syrian rebels]] linked to [[Salafi jihadism]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Cameron's attack on George Galloway reflects the west's self-delusions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/31/cameron-galloway-saudis-bahrain-dictators |work=The Guardian |date=31 January 2013}}</ref> Following the [[Ghouta chemical attack]] on 21 August 2013, Galloway speculated on his [[Press TV]] show that responsibility for the atrocity lay with [[al-Qaeda]] and the rebels in Syria who had been provided with the weapons by Israel.<ref>{{cite news|last=Massie|first=Alex|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/alex-massie/2013/08/george-galloway-blames-the-jews-for-the-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-syria|title=George Galloway blames Israel for the use of chemical weapons in Syria|work=The Spectator|date=23 August 2013|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-date=1 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901042708/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/alex-massie/2013/08/george-galloway-blames-the-jews-for-the-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-syria/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rashty|first=Sandy|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/110717/israel-gave-al-qaeda-chemical-weapons-says-galloway|title=Israel gave al-Qaeda chemical weapons, says Galloway|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=26 August 2013}}</ref> During his speech in the House of Commons debate about the crisis in Syria on 29 August 2013, Galloway was asked about this broadcast by the Conservative MP [[Matthew Offord]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Moseley|first=Tom|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/08/29/george-galloway-assad_n_3837585.html|title=George Galloway: 'Assad's Bad Enough, Is He Mad Enough?'|work=HuffPost|date=29 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/08/22/syria-george-galloway-israel-chemical-weapons_n_3799287.html|title=George Galloway Says Israel Gave Al-Qaeda Chemical Weapons To Use in Syria|work=HuffPost|date=23 August 2013}}</ref> In response, he stated that he had "said no such thing", and was accused{{by whom|date=June 2021}} of lying.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dysch|first=Marcus|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/110989/george-galloway-accused-israel-syria-claim|title=George Galloway accused on Israel-Syria claim|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=3 September 2013}}</ref> In the debate, Galloway stated "It is not that the regime is not bad enough to do it; everybody knows that it is bad enough to do it. The question is: is it mad enough to do it?".<ref name=chathamhouse-2015>{{cite journal |pages=1132 |url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/field/field_document/INTA91_5_11_Strong_0.pdf |title=Interpreting the Syria vote: parliament and British foreign policy |last=Strong |first=James |journal=International Affairs |publisher=The Royal Institute of International Affairs |date=16 September 2015 |volume=91 |issue=5 |doi=10.1111/1468-2346.12401 |s2cid=154571899 |access-date=22 July 2017 |archive-date=7 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107061926/https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/field/field_document/INTA91_5_11_Strong_0.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2014, Galloway opposed [[US intervention in the Syrian civil war|Western military action]] against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]], which he called a "death cult", and instead advocated military action from the regional powers.<ref name="Watt260914">{{cite news|last=Watt|first=Nicholas|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/26/george-galloway-angers-mps-isis-iraq-debate|title=George Galloway angers MPs with comment about 'quiescent' Iraqis|work=The Guardian|date=26 September 2014}}</ref>
In 2016, he supported [[Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war|Russian military action]] against Islamic State, saying: "I support the decision of the Russian government to come to the aid of the government in Syria because whatever faults it [the Syrian government] may have, whatever crimes it has committed, they are considerably fewer than the crimes committed by IS or would be committed by IS were they to come to power".<ref>{{cite news|last=Rahim|first=Sameer|url=http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/george-galloway-ill-stand-shoulder-to-shoulder-with-corbyn|title=George Galloway: I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with Corbyn|work=Prospect|date=12 February 2016|access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref>

===Support for the Iranian government===
Galloway has worked for the Iranian state-run satellite television channel, [[Press TV]] since 2008. During an event at the [[London School of Economics]] in March 2011, he said: "Because I don't believe that the government of Iran is a dictatorship I have no problem about working for Press TV in London which is a British owned television station. I'm not responsible for the government of [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad|Ahmedinejad]]. I'm not responsible for the leadership of Press TV". Galloway also said: "There are many things wrong with Iran. One thing they do have is elections. They elected a president that you or I might not have voted for but I am in no doubt that Ahmadinejad won the presidential election" [[2009 Iranian presidential election|held in 2009]].<ref name="Rosen">{{cite news|last=Rosen|first=Robyn|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/46333/george-galloway-gaza-war-bad-ww2|title=George Galloway: Gaza war as bad as WW2|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=9 March 2011}}</ref> (See [[#Television presenter|Television presenter]] below.)

In March 2008, Galloway said that the issue of [[gay rights in Iran]] was being misused by supporters of war against Iran. He said on ''[[The Wright Stuff]]'' chat show that the executed boyfriend of gay Iranian asylum seeker [[Mehdi Kazemi]] was executed for "[[sex crime]]s" rather than for being gay.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7132.html|access-date=21 August 2008|title=Galloway claims Iran executes sex offenders, not gays|work=Pink News|date=14 March 2008|first=Tony|last=Grew}}</ref>

[[Scott Long]], writing in ''The Guardian'' on 31 March, criticised Galloway's claim that "homosexuals are not executed in Iran, just rapists," pointing out that current law in the country stipulates that "Penetrative sex acts between men can bring death on the first conviction."<ref>{{cite news|last=Long|first=Scott|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/mar/31/theissueistorture|title=The issue is torture|work=The Guardian|date=31 March 2008}}</ref> [[Gay rights]] activist [[Peter Tatchell]], writing in ''The Guardian'' on 26 March, wrote that Galloway's "passionate opposition to a war against Iran, which I share, seems to have clouded his judgement" and "his claim that lesbian and gay people are not at risk of execution in Iran is refuted by every reputable human rights organisation, including [[Amnesty International]], [[Human Rights Watch]], the [[International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission]] and the [[International Lesbian and Gay Association]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Tatchell|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/mar/26/gallowaysiranianpropaganda|title=Galloway's Iranian propaganda?|work=The Guardian|date=26 March 2008}}</ref>

In August 2010, on his Press TV programme ''The Real Deal'', Galloway interviewed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, following Galloway's participation in a conference for expatriate Iranians whose expenses were paid by Iran's government.<ref name="Fletcher060810" /> He discussed [[Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani]], an Iranian woman convicted of adultery and [[Death by stoning|sentenced to stoning]], which he described as "the so-called stoning case". Galloway said of Ashtiani's sentence: "Every so often an issue comes along which is seized upon by the enemies of Iran and it becomes a heavy problem and magnified{{nbsp}}...".<ref name="Fletcher180810">{{cite news|last=Fletcher|first=Martin|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/thunderer/article2690853.ece|title=Galloway meets Ahmadinejad – a shameful sight|work=The Times|date=18 August 2010|access-date=2 September 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="Khorsandi">{{cite news|last=Khorsandi|first=Peyvand|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/stop-iran-broadcasting-propaganda-from-ealing-6504722.html|title=Stop Iran broadcasting propaganda from Ealing|work=London Evening Standard|date=19 August 2010|access-date=2 September 2016}} Unattributed in the online source, but Khorsandi was the other individual involved in the non-violent incident with Galloway which is mentioned.</ref>

According to [[Martin Fletcher]] in ''The Times'', Ahmadinejad gave "mendacious answers" which "went unchallenged by his obsequious interlocutor".<ref name="Fletcher180810" /> Galloway told Ahmadinejad: "I have police protection in London from the Iranian opposition because of my support for your election campaign" in 2009. "I mention this so you know where I'm coming from."<ref name="Khorsandi" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Neil|first=Andrew|author-link=Andrew Neil|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13865122|title=Iran: George Galloway challenged on Ahmadinejad TV interview|work=BBC News|date=21 June 2011|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref>

===Opposition to Scottish independence===
Galloway has long supported devolution for Scotland,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.stv.tv/politics/99728-george-galloway-devo-max-must-be-an-option-on-independence-referendum/|title=George Galloway: Devo-max must be an option on independence referendum|publisher=STV|date=14 May 2012|access-date=10 September 2014|archive-date=11 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911003854/http://news.stv.tv/politics/99728-george-galloway-devo-max-must-be-an-option-on-independence-referendum/|url-status=dead}}</ref> but opposes [[Scottish independence]]. In the run-up to the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|Scottish independence referendum]], held on 18 September 2014, Galloway was dismissive of the official [[Better Together (campaign)|Better Together]] campaign because it also involved Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, and he believed its leader, [[Alistair Darling]], to be ineffective.<ref name="Kutchinsky">{{cite news|last=Kutchinsky|first=Serena|url=http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/george-galloway-on-why-hes-saying-naw-to-scottish-independence|title=George Galloway on why he's saying 'naw' to Scottish independence|work=Prospect|date=28 April 2014}}</ref> "My case isn't that Scotland couldn't be independent, but shouldn't", ''The Sunday Times'' quoted him as saying.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allardyce|first1=Jason|last2=Azam|first2=Imran|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/Politics/article1335513.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124110534/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/Politics/article1335513.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2016|title=Galloway urges Scots to say no|work=The Sunday Times|location=London|date=3 November 2013|access-date=16 September 2015}} (subscription required)</ref>

Galloway's argument against independence was based on "class" over "nationality". He told Serena Kutchinsky in an interview for ''[[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect]]'' magazine: "If we lose this vote the possibility of a real Labour government, or any kind of Labour government, in the rest of UK will be gone".<ref name="Kutchinsky" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Galloway|first=George|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/scottish-independence-the-political-class-is-doing-what-hitler-couldnt--destroying-britain-9730260.html|title=The political class is doing what Hitler couldn't – destroying Britain|work=The Independent|date=12 September 2014}}</ref>

In 2013, Galloway began a series of public meetings in Scotland, using the slogan "Just Say Naw" to independence.<ref name="Harris">{{cite news|last=Harris|first=John|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/mar/26/scottish-referendum-george-galloway-naw-tour-independence-no-vote|title=Scottish referendum: George Galloway on tour to say 'naw' to independence|work=The Guardian|date=26 March 2014}}</ref> On 11 September 2014, Galloway took part in ''[[Scotland Decides: The Big, Big Debate]]'', an independence debate held in Glasgow and <!-- Mentorn, see Tinopolis, was the principal production company. -->broadcast by the BBC during the evening.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/galloway-faces-sturgeon-in-tonights-bbc-tv-debate.1410456022|title=Galloway faces Sturgeon in tonight's BBC TV debate|date=11 September 2014|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|access-date=13 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/tv-radio/tv-review-the-big-big-debate.1410471562|title=TV review: The Big, Big Debate|date=11 September 2014|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|access-date=13 September 2014}}</ref>

In July 2020, Galloway co-founded and established a cross-party [[Scottish unionist]] political coalition called Alliance 4 Unity (later re-named [[All for Unity]]). Its goal was to defeat the [[Scottish National Party]] and [[Scottish nationalism]] in general at the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]], by [[tactical voting]] for any Scottish unionist candidates in the proportional vote on each [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions|Scottish electoral regions]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Alliance 4 Unity|url=http://www.alliance4unity.uk|access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Blackett|first=Jamie|date=23 August 2020|title=How George Galloway and I plan to save the Union|work=[[The Spectator]]|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-george-galloway-and-i-plan-to-save-the-union|access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=McCall|first=Chris|date=26 July 2020|title=George Galloway says he'll work with Tories at Holyrood election to stop SNP breaking up Britain|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)]]|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/firebrand-galloway-says-sole-aim-22416482|access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref> The party got no seats, winning 0.86% of the Scottish vote, with 1.5% vote share in the [[South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South Scotland]] region in which Galloway stood. It was dissolved the following year.

During the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|election campagin]] Galloway was criticised for "[[race-baiting]]" comments about the then [[Cabinet Secretary for Justice]] [[Humza Yousaf]], about who he tweeted "Well #Humza you're not more Scottish than me. You're not a Celt like me."<ref>{{cite news|title=George Galloway: Humza Yousaf hits back at 'not a celt' comments|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19169254.george-galloway-humza-yousaf-hits-back-not-celt-comments/|last=Hutchison|first=Caitlin|date=18 March 2021|access-date=2 March 2024|work=[[Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]}}</ref>

===European Union===
In 2014, Galloway said he would "be campaigning to remain in the [[European Union]], as anyone with any brain cells will also be doing".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Galloway |first1=George |author1-link=George Galloway |title=Newsnight Scotland Jim Sillars Vs. George Galloway 24/03/2014 Scottish Independence debate |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hMFYvPGUjI&t=38m20s |website=youtube.com |publisher=
FMQUnofficial |format=video |date=25 March 2014}}</ref>

However, in 2016, he began campaigning for the UK to leave the EU. At a rally at the [[Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre]] on 19 February 2016, Galloway endorsed the [[Grassroots Out]] (GO) campaign for the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|European Union membership referendum]].<ref name="Mance">{{cite news|last=Mance|first=Henry|date=19 February 2016|title=George Galloway joins anti-EU rally as Brussels talks reach climax|work=[[Financial Times]]|location=London, UK|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bcf6df22-d754-11e5-8887-98e7feb46f27.html|access-date=19 February 2016}}</ref> He was introduced by [[UK Independence Party|UKIP]] leader [[Nigel Farage]] as a "special guest" who is "without doubt one of the greatest orators in this country, he is a towering figure on the left of British politics".<ref name="Millward">{{cite news|last=Millward|first=David|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/12166080/George-Galloways-appearance-at-Brexit-campaign-rally-sparks-furore.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220085020/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/12166080/George-Galloways-appearance-at-Brexit-campaign-rally-sparks-furore.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 February 2016|title=George Galloway's appearance at Brexit campaign rally sparks furore|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=20 February 2016|access-date=20 February 2016}}</ref> Galloway's presence at the rally prompted some of those present to leave.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Nigel Farage And George Galloway's Grassroots Out Alliance Mercilessly Mocked Online|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/20/nigel-farage-george-galloway-grassroots-out-campaign-mocked_n_9280984.html|access-date=21 February 2016|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=20 February 2016}}</ref> Labour MP [[Kate Hoey]], who was involved with GO, defended Galloway's participation. "George ended up getting a hugely favourable response to what he said".<ref name="Lyons">{{cite news|last1=Lyons|first1=James|last2=Shipman|first2=Tim|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/Politics/article1670475.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302083315/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/Politics/article1670475.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 March 2016|title=Galloway splits 'leave' camp|work=The Sunday Times|date=21 February 2016|access-date=21 February 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Responding to criticism of his association with Farage, Galloway tweeted: "We are not pals. We are allies in one cause. Like [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] and [[Josef Stalin|Stalin]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Sims|first=Alexandra|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/george-galloway-compares-relationship-with-nigel-farage-to-churchill-and-stalin-a6888526.html|title=George Galloway compares relationship with Nigel Farage to Churchill and Stalin|work=The Independent on Sunday|date=21 February 2016|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>

On 17 April 2019 Galloway announced he would support the [[Brexit Party]] led by Nigel Farage in the May [[2019 European Parliament election]]. He said that "given the nature of Labour's Euro-fanatic candidates list and the crucial juncture we have reached in the fight for the full implementation of the Brexit referendum result and for one-time only I will be supporting Nigel Farage in next months elections."<ref name=Herald19>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Martin|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17582739.socialist-george-galloway-under-fire-for-backing-nigel-farages-brexit-party-in-eu-elections/|title=Socialist George Galloway under fire for backing Nigel Farage's Brexit Party in EU elections|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|date=18 April 2019|access-date=22 April 2019}}</ref><ref name=National19>{{cite news|last=Newsdesk|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/17582992.brexit-george-galloway-reveals-his-support-for-nigel-farages-party/|title=Brexit: George Galloway reveals his support for Nigel Farage's party|work=[[The National (Scotland)|The National]]|date=18 April 2019|access-date=22 April 2019}}</ref>

===Russia and Ukraine===
From 2013 to 2022, Galloway was a presenter on the Russian state-controlled television network ''[[RT (TV network)|Russia Today]]'' (''RT'').

Galloway called the [[2014 Ukrainian Revolution]] a "coup" and a "foreign financed invasion of the sovereignty of Ukraine". He believes [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation of Crimea]] was legitimate, because he said the disputed [[2014 Crimean status referendum]] showed that "the huge majority of people in Crimea wanted to leave Ukraine".<ref>{{cite web |title=Five minutes with George Galloway: "The West is guilty of deep, laughable hypocrisy over Crimea" |url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2014/03/26/five-minutes-with-george-galloway-the-west-is-guilty-of-deep-laughable-hypocrisy-over-crimea/ |publisher=[[London School of Economics and Political Science]] |date=26 March 2014}}</ref>

When [[Opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia|Russian opposition]] leader [[Alexei Navalny]] was [[poisoning of Alexei Navalny|poisoned in August 2020]], Galloway claimed on [[Russia Today]] that Navalny was a [[white supremacist]].<ref name="Scotsman 2022">{{cite news |date=1 March 2022 |title=Anti-independence party led by Vladimir 'Putin's court clown' George Galloway collapses |work=The Scotsman |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/anti-independence-party-led-by-putins-court-clown-george-galloway-collapses-3591189 |access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>

In early 2022, Galloway dismissed claims that Russia was [[Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine|about to invade Ukraine]], writing "I told you it wasn't. You were wrong. I was right".<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway's Russian ramblings |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/george-galloway-s-russian-ramblings/ |work=[[The Spectator]] |date=22 March 2022}}</ref> When [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia invaded Ukraine]] ten days later, he said the invasion was "not what I wanted", but he blamed the invasion on "the West" and accused it of "Pumping Ukraine full of NATO weapons, mercenaries and propaganda". Galloway was accused of spreading [[Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine#Russian themes|pro-Russian disinformation]]<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway defiant on Russia as he sues Twitter for defamation |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/george-galloway-defiant-on-russia-as-he-sues-twitter-for-defamation-kk2s37699 |work=[[The Times]] |date=26 May 2022}}</ref> and of being an apologist and propagandist for Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] by the larger political parties. [[Jamie Blackett]] ended their political alliance [[All for Unity]] over their disagreement on Ukraine. The [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] leader, [[Alex Cole-Hamilton]], called Galloway "an apologist for [[Russian irredentism|Russian expansionist aggression]]" and said that Galloway's "association with RT has lent legitimacy and influence to the propaganda apparatus of a hostile power".<ref name="Scotsman 2022"/><ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 2022 |title=George Galloway's All for Unity party collapses amid upset over RT programme |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19960713.george-galloways-unity-party-collapses-amid-upset-rt-programme/ |access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>

===China and North Korea===
In 2019, Galloway defended the authorities' crackdown on [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests|protests]] in [[Hong Kong]]. He told [[China Global Television Network]]: "These people should know that Hong Kong is China. No country, absolutely no country, will allow an existential threat to emerge on its territory".<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway defends China over Hong Kong protests |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/george-galloway-defends-china-over-hong-kong-protests-jvhk63ls5 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=17 August 2019}}</ref>

Galloway has dismissed the evidence for the [[Persecution of Uyghurs in China|persecution of Uighur Muslims]] by the Chinese authorities. In 2022, he said there were no [[Xinjiang internment camps|internment camps for Uighurs]] in China. He stated that China had established "re-education centres" for steer terrorists away from the path of extremism.<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway stands accused of profiting from the pain of Gaza – and rightly so. But he is not the only one |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/01/george-galloway-profiting-pain-gaza-rochdale |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=1 March 2024}}</ref>

Galloway said, after spending time in [[North Korea]], he "does not agree with the North Korean system" and would not like to live there. He said "there have been achievements in North Korea ... They have a cohesive, pristine actually, innocent culture, a culture not penetrated by globalisation and Western mores”. During a period of tension between North and [[South Korea]] in 2013, Galloway said "North Korea has no intention to harm any of us. North Korea’s problem is with South Korea. … South Korea exists because America invaded Korea, killed millions of people, divided the country and continues to garrison South Korea with [[List of United States Army installations in South Korea|military bases]], nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapon". He blamed the United States for "war mongering" during the crisis and called South Korea its "puppet state".<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway: North Korea Has 'Cohesive, Pristine, Innocent Culture' |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/10/george-galloway-north-korea-has-innocent-culture_n_3050682.html |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=10 April 2013}}</ref>

===Latin America===
He has been an advocate for the Venezuelan government of [[Hugo Chávez]] and, in his ''[[Fidel Castro Handbook]]'', for the former Cuban leader.<ref>{{cite news|last=Galloway|first=George|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/feb/28/comment.politics|title=These orchestrated attacks on Chávez are a travesty|date=28 February 2007|access-date=22 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Galloway|first=George|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/hugo-chavezs-death-is-a-body-blow-for-the-poor-and-oppressed-throughout-latin-america-8521834.html|title=Hugo Chavez's death is a body blow for the poor and oppressed throughout Latin America|work=The Independent|date=5 March 2013|access-date=22 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wadi|first=Ramona|url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44790 |title=We have made a revolution that is bigger than us|work=Green Left Weekly|date=17 July 2010|access-date=22 May 2016}}</ref> "You were the greatest man I ever met Comandante Fidel. You were the man of the century", he tweeted when Castro died in November 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38117068|title=Fidel Castro: Jeremy Corbyn praises 'huge figure'|work=BBC News|date=26 November 2016|access-date=26 November 2016}}</ref>

===Saudi Arabia===
Galloway has criticised Britain's close ties with [[Saudi Arabia]] and British involvement in the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]]. In 2017, he said: "It is a country with no democracy or freedom of any kind. It is a country that exports terrorism around the world and funds terrorism and extremism around the world. We should have nothing whatsoever to do with them."<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway: UK must sever all ties with the charnel house that is Saudi Arabia |url=http://talkradio.co.uk/news/george-galloway-uk-must-sever-all-ties-charnel-house-saudi-arabia-17072516635 |work=Talkradio |date=25 July 2017}}</ref>

=== India ===
Galloway opposes [[India]]'s role in the [[Kashmir conflict]] with [[Pakistan]], and has voiced support for the [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=17 November 2019 |title=Kashmiris have right to use arms in their struggle: Galloway |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2101042/kashmiris-right-use-arms-struggle-galloway |access-date=6 April 2022 |website=The Express Tribune |quote=Noted British politician George Galloway said that [[Kashmir]] was under illegal occupation of Indian forces and its tyranny against the Muslims of Kashmir was due to its own fear of the [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|Kashmiri freedom struggle]] and vigour for independence from Indian occupation.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=I'm speaking with the President of Pakistan here in the next few hours on #Kashmir |url=https://twitter.com/georgegalloway/status/1195576818536988672 |access-date=6 April 2022 |website=Twitter }}</ref> He said the Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] "has blood on his hands". Modi was accused of initiating and condoning the [[2002 Gujarat riots]] against India's Muslim minority.<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway says Narendra Modi 'has blood on his hands' at protest as Indian PM meets David Cameron |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/george-galloway-says-narendra-modi-has-blood-on-his-hands-at-protest-as-indian-pm-meets-david-a6731906.html |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |work=The Independent |date=12 November 2015}}</ref>

=== Opposition to abortion rights ===
In a 2004 interview with ''[[The Independent]]'', Galloway stated his opposition to abortion rights. He said he was "strongly against abortion. I believe life begins at conception, and therefore unborn babies have rights. I think abortion is immoral."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-04-04 |title=George Galloway: It's not easy being Gorgeous |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/george-galloway-it-s-not-easy-being-gorgeous-54718.html |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

== Defamation cases ==
===Allegations and lawsuit against the Mirror Group===
In October 1991, Galloway tabled a motion in the House of Commons expressing concern at the allegations against news publisher [[Mirror Group Newspapers]] put forward in [[Seymour Hersh]]'s recently published book, ''[[The Samson Option (book)|The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy]]''. Hersh alleded that the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'''s foreign editor, [[Nicholas Davies (journalist)|Nicholas Davies]], was involved in weapons sales to Iran and had given the whereabouts of [[Mordechai Vanunu]] to [[Mossad]]. Mossad sought to capture Vanunu due to his role as a [[whistleblower]] of Israeli nuclear operations, and later "lured him lured out of Britain to Italy", where he "was kidnapped, drugged and returned to Israel". Galloway's motion also called upon Mirror Group's owner, [[Robert Maxwell]], to appoint a tribunal to investigate the allegations and the potential involvement of foreign intelligence in the publishing group.<ref>{{cite act |type= Early Day Motion|index= 1284|date= 21 December 1991|legislature= UK Parliament|title= MIRROR GROUP NEWSPAPERS AND ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE|url= https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/2134}}</ref> As the motion was signed under parliamentary privilege, other news outlets could report on it without worrying about legal repercussion, as Maxwell was known for litigiousness. Following this, the Daily Mirror published a "vitriolic" front-page editorial against Galloway, accusing him of abusing parliamentary privilege and of being motivated by links to anti-Israel terrorist groups. Galloway sued for libel and was awarded a public apology and substantial undisclosed damages from the Mirror Group.<ref>{{cite news| title = Scottish MP wins libel damages| work = The Herald| date = 21 December 1992| url = https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12589730.scottish-mp-wins-libel-damages/| access-date = 11 February 2023}}</ref>

===''Daily Telegraph'' libel case===
On 22 April 2003, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published news articles and comment describing documents found by its reporter [[David Blair (journalist)|David Blair]] in the ruins of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. The documents purported to be records of meetings between Galloway and Iraqi intelligence agents, and they stated that he had received £375,000 per year from the proceeds of the [[Oil-for-Food Programme]].<ref name=judgement>{{cite journal|url=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2004/2786.html|title=In the High Court of Justice Queen's Bench Division Between: George Galloway MP and Telegraph Group Limited|id=Neutral Citation Number: [2004] EWHC 2786 (QB)/Case No: H003X02026|author=Mr Justice Eady|publisher=Royal Courts of Justice|date=2 December 2004|access-date=24 April 2011}}</ref> Galloway sued the newspaper for libel, and the case was heard in the High Court on 14 November 2004.<ref name=judgement>{{cite journal|url=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2004/2786.html|title=In the High Court of Justice Queen's Bench Division Between: George Galloway MP and Telegraph Group Limited|id=Neutral Citation Number: [2004] EWHC 2786 (QB)/Case No: H003X02026|author=Mr Justice Eady|publisher=Royal Courts of Justice|date=2 December 2004|access-date=24 April 2011}}</ref>

On 2 December, Justice [[David Eady]] ruled that the story had been "seriously defamatory", and that ''The Daily Telegraph'' was "obliged to compensate Mr Galloway{{nbsp}}... and to make an award for the purposes of restoring his reputation." Galloway was awarded damages of £150,000 plus, after a failed appeal in 2006, legal costs of about £2&nbsp;million.<ref name=appeal>{{cite journal|url=http://www.5rb.com/docs/Galloway-v-Telegraph%20CA%2025%20Jan%202006.pdf|title=In the Supreme Court of Judicature Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Between: George Galloway MP and Telegraph Group Limited|id=Neutral Citation Number: [2006] EWCA Civ 17/Case No: A2/2005/0308|author=Sir Anthony Clarke MR|publisher=Royal Courts of Justice|date=25 January 2006|access-date=24 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810095555/http://www.5rb.com/docs/Galloway-v-Telegraph%20CA%2025%20Jan%202006.pdf|archive-date=10 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="guardian-20060126">{{cite news|last=Dyer|first=Clare|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jan/26/thedailytelegraph.politicsandiraq|title=Telegraph loses Galloway libel appeal|work=The Guardian|date=26 January 2006|access-date=23 April 2011}}</ref>

Both sides regarded the libel case as an important test of the [[Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd|Reynolds qualified-privilege defence]]. ''The Daily Telegraph'' did not attempt to claim justification (where the defendant seeks to prove the truth of the defamatory reports): "It has never been the ''Telegraph''{{'s}} case to suggest that the allegations contained in these documents are true".<ref>{{cite news|title=Galloway wins Saddam libel case|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4061165.stm|date=2 December 2004|work=BBC News|access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref> The newspaper argued that it acted responsibly as the allegations it reported were of sufficient public interest to outweigh the damage caused to Galloway's reputation.<ref name="guardian-20060125">{{cite news|last=Cozens|first=Claire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jan/25/Iraqandthemedia.thedailytelegraph|title=Telegraph loses Galloway libel appeal|work=The Guardian|date=25 January 2006|access-date=23 April 2011}}</ref> The trial judge did not accept this defence, noting that comments such as Galloway being guilty of "treason", "in Saddam's pay", and being "Saddam's little helper" caused him [the judge] to conclude that "the newspaper was not neutral but both embraced the allegations with relish and fervour and went on to embellish them";<ref name="guardian-20060126" /> additionally, the judge ruled, Galloway had not been given a fair or reasonable opportunity to make inquiries or meaningful comment upon the documents before they were published.<ref name=judgement />

===''Christian Science Monitor'' libel case===
[[The Christian Science Monitor|''The Christian Science Monitor'']] also published a story on 25 April 2003, stating that it had documentary evidence that he had received "more than ten million dollars" from the Iraqi government. However, on 20 June 2003, the ''Monitor'' reported that its own investigation had concluded that the documents were sophisticated forgeries.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Faye|last1=Bowers|last2=Prusher|first2=Ilene R|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0620/p01s03-woiq.html|title=Galloway papers deemed forgeries|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=20 June 2003|access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref>

Galloway sued ''The'' ''Christian Science Monitor'' for libel. In March 2004, he accepted damages and a public apology from the ''Monitor''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3549679.stm|title=Galloway accepts libel damages|work=BBC News|date=19 March 2004|access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Galloway wins damages for Iraq libel|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/mar/20/uk.iraq|access-date=21 August 2008|work=The Guardian|date=20 March 2004|location=London, UK|first=Jamie|last=Wilson}}</ref>

===Jcom radio libel case===
In November 2007, Jewish radio station [[Jcom Radio|Jcom]] aired a satirical segment in which a character named ‘Georgie Galloway’ used the anti-Semitic catchphrase "kill the Jews, kill the Jews". Galloway sued the station for libel and won the case in the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]]. Galloway was awarded £15,000 in damages and around £5,000 in costs. The radio station closed after losing the case. Galloway said the judgment had "categorically crushed the slur of anti-Semitism" against him.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Michael |title=London's Jewish radio station closes after Galloway sues |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-s-jewish-radio-station-closes-after-galloway-sues-891492.html |website=The Independent |access-date=6 March 2024 |language=en |date=11 August 2008}}</ref>

===BBC ''Question Time'' appearance===
On 5 February 2015, Galloway appeared on BBC's ''[[Question Time (TV series)|Question Time]]'' discussion programme, recorded in [[Finchley]], London, within a constituency with Britain's largest Jewish community.<ref name="Dysch060215">{{cite news|last=Dysch|first=Marcus|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/usa/harvard-leaders-accused-of-obstructing-antisemitism-investigation-ryl0r3ms|title=George Galloway challenged by hostile audience at Finchley Question Time|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=6 February 2015}}</ref> The ''[[Jewish Chronicle]]'' wrote that "Galloway was heckled by Jewish audience members who challenged him on his anti-Israel record" and the audience shouted "You’re not welcome here".<ref name="Dysch060215" /> 

Five days later, [[Hadley Freeman]], a columnist for ''The Guardian'', tweeted: "Galloway has said and done things that cross the line from anti-Israel to antisemitic".<ref>{{cite news|last=Mostrous|first=Alexi|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4368101.ece|title=Galloway demands cash for Twitter 'libel'|work=The Times|date=28 February 2015|access-date=16 September 2015}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=Ben|url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/02/12/anti-zionist-british-parliamentarian-george-galloway-launches-legal-action-against-journalists-antisemite-tweet|title=Anti-Zionist British Parliamentarian George Galloway Launches Legal Action Against Journalist's 'Antisemite' Tweet|work=the algemeiner|date=12 February 2015}}</ref> Galloway said that he would issue a suit for defamation against her.<ref name="Reidy">{{cite news|last=Reidy|first=Padraig|url=https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2015/03/padraig-reidy-george-galloways-dear-tweeter-letters/|title=George Galloway's dear tweeter letters|work=Index on Censorship|date=5 March 2015}}</ref> Freeman then deleted the tweet.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bowcott |first1=Owen |last2=correspondent |first2=legal affairs |title=Complaints to solicitors' regulator over libel demands from Galloway's lawyers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/04/complaints-to-solicitors-regulator-over-libel-demands-from-galloways-lawyers |website=The Guardian |access-date=6 March 2024 |date=4 March 2015}}</ref>

Some who had re-tweeted Freeman's comment were then sent a letter from Chambers Solicitors, acting for Galloway, asking for an apology and £5,000 plus [[Value Added Tax (United Kingdom)|Value Added Tax]] (then levied at 20%) to cover costs incurred by the letter.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/george-galloway-demanding-5000-from-twitter-users-over-antisemitism-libel-10077205.html|title=George Galloway demands £5,000 from Twitter users over 'anti-Semitism' libel and threatens legal action|work=The Independent|date=28 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dysch|first=Marcus|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/131079/tweeters-offered-legal-help-galloway-sues|title=Tweeters offered legal help as Galloway sues|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=5 March 2015}}</ref> Some people who received the letter complained to the [[Solicitors Regulation Authority]].<ref name="Reidy" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Bowcott|first=Owen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/04/complaints-to-solicitors-regulator-over-libel-demands-from-galloways-lawyers|title=Complaints to solicitors' regulator over libel demands from Galloway's lawyers|work=The Guardian|date=4 March 2015}}</ref> [[Eric Heinze]], Professor of Law at [[Queen Mary University of London]], noted that an editor of the [[Media Lens]] website had sent a tweet to Freeman asking if she could provide evidence for her claim that Galloway is antisemitic. Heinze wrote that "any example she could cite would probably persuade some and not others. Even if an overwhelming majority were unpersuaded, a highly popular opinion does not create an objectively verifiable fact."<ref>{{cite news|last=Heinze|first=Eric|url=https://theconversation.com/british-mp-exploits-vague-defamation-law-to-sue-guardian-journalist-37486|title=British MP exploits vague defamation law to sue Guardian journalist|work=The Conversation|date=12 February 2015}} See also {{cite book|last=Heinze|first=Eric|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P1hxCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA31|title=Hate Speech and Democratic Citizenship|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2016|page=31|isbn=9780198759027}}</ref> Chambers Solicitors' conduct was the subject of a warning from the SRA a year later.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ames|first1=Jonathan|last2=Gibb|first2=Frances|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4710618.ece|title=Galloway's lawyers warned over letters to tweeters|work=The Times|location=London|date=11 March 2016|access-date=11 March 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Initiating a libel action must begin within a year and no formal writ was issued.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marcus|first=Laura|url=http://www.thejc.com/comment-and-debate/comment/154762/george-galloway-made-me-a-zionist|title=George Galloway made me a Zionist|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=17 March 2016|access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref>

===Aisha Ali-Khan libel case===
On 20 June 2016, Galloway lost a libel action brought by Aisha Ali-Khan, his assistant for six months in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-32802971|title=Ex-MP George Galloway referred to police over parliamentary expenses|work=BBC News|date=19 May 2015}}</ref> He had claimed that she had pursued a "dirty tricks" campaign against him and the Respect Party, and had slept at his house with her then-husband. The case was heard in the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]]. His counsel apologised on Galloway's behalf, and accepted that he had made "defamatory accusations". Ali-Khan will receive a "five-figure sum" in damages and her legal costs.<ref name="Kennedy">{{cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Dominic|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/galloway-libel-feud-reaches-high-court-3t60jl6bx|title=Galloway libel feud reaches High Court|work=The Times|location=London|date=20 June 2016|access-date=20 June 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Weaver|first=Matthew|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/20/george-galloway-damages-assistant-aisha-ali-khan-dirty-tricks-claims|title=George Galloway pays damages to former aide over dirty tricks claims|work=The Guardian|date=20 June 2016|access-date=20 June 2016}}</ref> As part of the settlement of their libel claim, both Galloway and Ali-Khan gave undertakings not to make any further public statement about the litigation or to defame each other. In 2018 Galloway brought an action that Ali-Khan had breached this undertaking 26 times, which Ali-Khan admitted, and in April 2018 the High Court imprisoned Ali-Khan for 12 weeks for [[contempt of court]], describing her action as "deliberate, flagrant, persistent and inexcusable". Ali-Khan had been found guilty of contempt of court on a previous occasion.<ref name=thetelegraphandargus-20180419>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/16171212.George_Galloway_s_former_parliamentary_assistant_jailed_for_contempt/ |title=George Galloway's former parliamentary assistant Aisha Ali-Khan jailed for contempt |last=Black |first=Michael |website=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=19 April 2018 |access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=times-20180323>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/aisha-ali-khan-former-aide-to-george-galloway-may-face-jail-zkxshhzwz |title=Aisha Ali-Khan, former aide to George Galloway, may face jail |last=Kennedy |first=Dominic |work=The Times |location=London |date=23 March 2018 |access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=judiciary-20180322>{{cite web |url=https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/galloway-v-ali-khan-1.pdf |title=George Galloway -v- Aisha Ali-Khan |author=Mr Justice Warby |publisher=High Court of Justice |id=HQ14X01162 |date=22 March 2018 |access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref> Previously, during 2017, Ali-Khan had filed a petition for Galloway's bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Dominic |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/former-aide-asks-court-to-declare-george-galloway-bankrupt-c9k326d3x|title=Former aide asks court to declare George Galloway bankrupt |work=The Times |location=London |date=19 August 2017 |access-date=19 August 2017}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

===Twitter defamation case===
{{Update|section|reason=Has the case been resolved and, if so, what was the outcome?|date=March 2024}}
In April 2022, Galloway’s Twitter account was labelled "Russian state-affiliated media" by Twitter. In response Galloway tweeted: "I work for NO Russian media. I have 400,000 followers. I'm the leader of a British political party and spent nearly 30 years in the British parliament. If you do not remove this designation I will take legal action".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dwoskin |first1=Elizabeth |title=China is Russia's most powerful weapon for information warfare |url=https://news.yahoo.com/china-russias-most-powerful-weapon-103842525.html |website=news.yahoo.com |date=8 April 2022 |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref> Twitter users pointed out that Galloway's own profile named the Russian state media outlets that he worked for. Galloway then removed these from his profile,<ref>{{cite web |last=Masnick |first=Mike |date=11 April 2022 |title=UK Politician Who Had Shows On Russian TV Channel Threatens To Sue Twitter For Noting His Connections To Russian Media |url=https://www.techdirt.com/2022/04/11/uk-politician-who-had-shows-on-russian-tv-channel-threatens-to-sue-twitter-for-noting-his-connections-to-russian-media/ |access-date=13 April 2022 |website=[[Techdirt]] }}</ref> He said Twitter had refused to explain the label, which he said was added to his account after he had stopped presenting on Russian television channels, which were closed  by the British government in March 2022. Galloway sued Twitter for defamation in the [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court, Dublin]]. The suit also alleged that Twitter had unlawfully processed his personal data by labelling and censoring his account.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ebrahimi |first1=Soraya |title=UK's George Galloway sues Twitter over Russia label |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2022/05/26/uks-george-galloway-sues-twitter-over-russia-label/ |website=The National |access-date=6 March 2024 |language=en |date=26 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Carswell |first1=Simon |title=George Galloway sues Twitter in Dublin over 'Russian state-affiliated' label |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2022/05/25/george-galloway-sues-twitter-in-dublin-over-russian-state-affiliated-label/ |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=6 March 2024 |language=en |date=25 May 2022}}</ref>

== Elections contested ==
=== UK Parliament elections ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!Constituency
!colspan=2|Party
!Votes
!% votes
!Position
|-
|[[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]]
|[[Glasgow Hillhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Hillhead]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|17,958
|42.9
|'''Won'''
|-
|[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]]
|[[Glasgow Hillhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Hillhead]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|15,148
|38.5
|'''Won'''
|-
|[[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]]
|[[Glasgow Kelvin (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Kelvin]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|16,643
|51.0
|'''Won'''
|-
|[[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]]
|[[Glasgow Kelvin (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Kelvin]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|12,014
|44.8
|'''Won'''
|-
|[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]]
|[[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow]]
| {{party name with colour|Respect Party}}
|15,801
|35.9
|'''Won'''
|-
|[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]]
|[[Poplar and Limehouse (UK Parliament constituency)|Poplar and Limehouse]]
| {{party name with colour|Respect Party}}
|8,160
|17.5
|3rd
|-
|[[2012 Bradford West by-election]]
|[[Bradford West (UK Parliament constituency)|Bradford West]]
| {{party name with colour|Respect Party}}
|18,341
|55.9
|'''Won'''
|-
|[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]]
|[[Bradford West (UK Parliament constituency)|Bradford West]]
| {{party name with colour|Respect Party}}
|8,557
|21.2
|2nd
|-
|[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]]
|[[Manchester Gorton (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester Gorton]]
| {{party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|2,615
|5.7
|3rd
|-
|[[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]]
|[[West Bromwich East (UK Parliament constituency)|West Bromwich East]]
| {{party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|489
|1.4
|6th
|-
|[[2021 Batley and Spen by-election]]
|[[Batley and Spen (UK Parliament constituency)|Batley and Spen]]
| {{party name with colour|Workers Party of Britain}}
|8,264
|21.87
|3rd
|-
|[[2024 Rochdale by-election]]
|[[Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Rochdale]]
| {{party name with colour|Workers Party of Britain}}
|12,335
|39.65
|'''Won'''
|}

=== London mayoral elections ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!colspan=2|Party
!Votes
!% votes
!Position
|-
|[[2016 London mayoral election]]
| {{party name with colour|Respect Party}}
|37,007
|1.4
|7th
|}

=== Scottish Parliament elections ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!Region
!colspan=2|Party
!Votes
!% votes
!Position
|-
|[[2011 Scottish Parliament election]]
|[[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]] 
| {{party name with colour|Respect Party}}
|6,972
|3.3
|5th
|-
|[[2021 Scottish Parliament election]]
|[[South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South Scotland]] 
| {{party name with colour|All for Unity}}
|5,521
|1.5
|6th
|}

==Television presenter==
In an overview of the broadcasting organisations Galloway works for, Tom Rogan in the ''[[National Review]]'' in April 2014 described him as being "a Western puppet for tyranny's propagandists".<ref>{{cite news|last=Rogan|first=Tom|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/376670/tyranny-smile-tom-rogan|title=Tyranny with a Smile|work=National Review|date=28 April 2014}}</ref>

In August 2009, editions of Galloway's programmes ''The Real Deal'' and ''Comment'' programme for [[Press TV]], a London-based news channel controlled by the government of Iran, were found by the British broadcasting regulator [[Ofcom]] to have breached its broadcasting code on impartiality.<ref>{{cite news|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/press-tv-anti-israel-bias-slammed-by-ofcom-1.10659|title=Press TV anti-Israel bias slammed by Ofcom|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=3 August 2009|access-date=10 June 2017}}</ref>

After Press TV lost its Ofcom licence in 2012, according to Galloway, the Iranian broadcaster owed him £40,000, leading to his company Miranda Media entering compulsory liquidation in 2013 because of unpaid tax. Reportedly, the owed payment amounts to £100,000, although Galloway disputed this in February 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mendick|first=Robert|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12176066/George-Galloways-firm-goes-bust-owing-100000-tax.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12176066/George-Galloways-firm-goes-bust-owing-100000-tax.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=George Galloway's firm goes bust owing £100,000 tax|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=27 February 2016|access-date=27 February 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Miranda Media, in which income from Galloway's media work was deposited, was established in September 2007 under a month before a law came into force allowing directors to receive loans from their own companies, a facility Galloway used on multiple occasions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gadher|first=Dipesh|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/Politics/article1121914.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529151505/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/Politics/article1121914.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 May 2015|title=Galloway able to slash tax with media firms|work=The Sunday Times|location=London|date=9 September 2012|access-date=31 December 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

Shortly after its foundation in June 2012, Galloway became a presenter with the [[Al Mayadeen]] television station where he presents "Kalima Hurra" ({{lang-ar|كلمة حرّة}} meaning free word). Al Mayadeen reportedly has connections with Iran and the Assad government in Syria, and has been accused of supporting the Assad government, a claim Galloway has rejected.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pitel|first=Laura|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/medianews/article3520071.ece|title=Galloway joins TV station 'linked to Syria'|work=The Times|date=28 August 2012|access-date=11 December 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kingsley|first=Patrick|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/shortcuts/2012/aug/28/tv-stations-george-galloway-julian-assange|title=The TV stations where George Galloway and Julian Assange are stars|work=The Guardian|date=28 August 2012|access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Tim|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10278115/What-George-Galloway-neglected-to-mention-in-Syria-debate.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10278115/What-George-Galloway-neglected-to-mention-in-Syria-debate.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=What George Galloway neglected to mention in Syria debate|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=1 September 2013|access-date=30 November 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In November 2013, Galloway and his wife Gayatri began to present ''[[Sputnik (television programme)|Sputnik]]'' for the [[RT (TV network)|RT]] network, a Russian government-backed station formerly known as Russia Today. He is a regular contributor to RT's other programming.<ref name="Armstrong">{{cite news|last=Armstrong|first=Claire|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10913724.Bradford_Respect_MP_George_Galloway_to_be_father_again/|title=Bradford Respect MP George Galloway to be father again|work=Telegraph & Argus|location=Bradford|date=3 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Perraudin|first=Frances|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/30/rt-russia-todays-six-most-memorable-moments|title=RT: Russia Today's six most memorable moments|work=The Guardian|date=30 October 2014}}</ref> Among the notable guests on Galloway's RT programmes have been [[Gilad Atzmon]],<ref name="Dych"/><ref name="Cohen 2015">{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=Ben | title=Anti-Zionist British Parliamentarian George Galloway Launches Legal Action Against Journalist's 'Antisemite' Tweet | website=Algemeiner.com | date=12 February 2015 | url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2015/02/12/anti-zionist-british-parliamentarian-george-galloway-launches-legal-action-against-journalists-antisemite-tweet/ | access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="CST 2015">{{cite web | title=When George schmoozed Gilad – Blog | website=CST – Protecting Our Jewish Community | date=6 January 2015 | url=https://cst.org.uk/news/blog/2015/01/06/when-george-schmoozed-gilad | access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref> and [[Shlomo Sand]].<ref name="Solomon 2018">{{cite web | last=Solomon | first=Esther | title=Why David Duke, David Icke, Louis Farrakhan and the Assad regime all love Shlomo Sand | website=Haaretz.com | date=20 November 2018 | url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-why-david-duke-louis-farrakhan-and-the-assad-regime-all-love-shlomo-sand-1.6673617 | access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref>

In the register of members' financial interests published at the end of January 2015, Galloway disclosed that he had earned £293,450 from his television broadcasting in the previous year and had received almost £70,000 in travelling expenses and hotel stays.<ref>{{cite news|last=McSmith|first=Andy|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-mcsmiths-diary-gordon-brown-and-george-galloway-earn-more-than-tory-barristers-10024308.html|title=Gordon Brown and George Galloway earn more than Tory barristers|work=The Independent|date=4 February 2015}} See the itemised list in {{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/911/911.pdf|title=Register of Members' Financial Interests, as of 26 January 2015|publisher=House of Commons|date=2 February 2015|pages=120–23}}</ref> For the period November 2013 to February 2015, Galloway was paid £100,000 for his appearances on RT, the highest payment to any British politician working for the channel.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Doward|first1=Jamie|last2=Hyman|first2=Mika|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/18/mps-kremlin-propaganda-channel-rt|title=MPs defend fees of up to £1,000 an hour to appear on 'Kremlin propaganda' channel|work=The Observer|date=18 November 2017|access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref>

In 2016, Galloway presented a documentary film, ''[[The Killing$ of Tony Blair]]''.

==Radio presenter==
{{main|The Mother of All Talk Shows}}
Having broadcast on talkSPORT from 2006 to 2010, Galloway began to broadcast on [[talkRADIO]] (which launched in March 2016 as a sister station to [[Talksport]]) in June 2016. Amongst his many monologues, he said that if Scotland were to leave the UK and join the EU "it would not be a good thing for his fellow countrymen", and has condemned the BBC as a "national disgrace".<ref>Amy Southall [https://talkradio.co.uk/opinion/if-scotland-leaves-uk-and-joins-eu-it-can-only-lead-misery-says-george-galloway-17030811028 If Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU it can only lead to misery, says George Galloway]. Talkradio, 8 March 2017.</ref><ref>Luke Dolan [https://talkradio.co.uk/news/george-galloway-i-consider-bbc-be-national-disgrace-17071916412 George Galloway: 'I consider the BBC to be a national disgrace']. Talkradio, 19 July 2017.</ref>

Concerning the [[Iraq War]], he said he would not rest "until [[Tony Blair]] is brought to justice", and in 2019 announced plans to try and prosecute [[Alastair Campbell]].<ref>Luke Dolan [https://talkradio.co.uk/news/george-galloway-i-wont-rest-until-tony-blair-brought-justice-no-matter-how-long-it-takes George Galloway: 'I wont rest until Tony Blair is brought to justice, no matter how long it takes’]. Talkradio, 17 July 2017.</ref><ref>Holly Pine [https://talkradio.co.uk/news/george-galloway-launch-legal-battle-against-alastair-campbell-19052931146 George Galloway to launch legal battle against Alastair Campbell]. Talkradio, 29 May 2019.</ref>

In June 2019, after [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool Football Club]] had defeated [[Tottenham Hotspur Football Club]] in the Champions League final, Galloway congratulated the people of [[Liverpool]] and tweeted "No #Israël{{sic}} flags on the Cup!". He said that this referred to a number of Tottenham fans who were flying the flag of Israel in the crowd, showing "an affiliation to a '[[Racism|racist state]]'".<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway sacked by talkRADIO over allegedly anti-Semitic tweet |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48498010 |access-date=3 June 2019 |work=BBC News |date=3 June 2019}}</ref> Tottenham Hotspur accused Galloway of "blatant [[anti-Semitism]]" and talkRADIO sacked him saying the broadcaster "does not tolerate anti-Semitic views".<ref>{{cite news |title=George Galloway Sacked By TalkRadio After Being Accused Of 'Blatant Anti-Semitism'|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/george-galloway-anti-semitism-tottenham_uk_5cf4f4d2e4b0a1997b6d68cc?u4 |work=[[Huffington Post]] |access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Marriages and children===
Galloway has been married four times and has six children.<ref name="Telegraph, February 2024"/>

In 1979, he married Elaine Fyffe, with whom he has a daughter, Lucy (born 1982).<ref name="Armstrong" /> The couple separated in 1987 and divorced in 1999.<ref name="Davis" />

In 1994, Galloway married Amineh Abu-Zayyad, a biologist of Palestinian origin, in a non-legally binding [[Islamic marital practices|Islamic ceremony]];<ref name="Robinson">{{cite news|last=Wolfe-Robinson|first=Maya|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/shortcuts/2012/apr/03/how-many-wives-does-george-galloway-have|title=How many wives does George Galloway have?|work=The Guardian|date=3 April 2012|access-date=30 March 2016}}</ref> a legally binding [[civil marriage|civil ceremony]] followed in March 2000.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/34/?name=George_Galloway&marriage=2000&marriage_x=2-0-0| title = George Galloway - Ancestry.com}}</ref><ref name="Davis" /> Abu-Zayyad was granted a divorce in February 2009, after an estrangement of several years, on the grounds of "unreasonable behaviour"; her petition was not contested.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/4292303/George-Galloway-divorced-over-unreasonable-behaviour.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/4292303/George-Galloway-divorced-over-unreasonable-behaviour.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=George Galloway divorced over 'unreasonable behaviour'|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=20 January 2009|access-date=30 March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Galloway married Rima Husseini, his former researcher, in a [[Void marriage#Law of England and Wales|non-legally binding]] Islamic ceremony in 2005.<ref name="Robinson" /> Galloway had two sons, Zein (born 2007) and Faris (born 2011), with Husseini, who is from Lebanon.<ref name="Davis" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/03/george-galloway-baby_n_4535836.html|title=George Galloway's 29-Year-Old Wife Is Expecting A Baby|work=HuffPost|date=3 January 2014|access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

On 31 March 2012, he married his fourth wife, Dutch-Indonesian anthropologist Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, then 27, in Amsterdam.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rickman|first=Dina|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/03/george-galloway-married-putri-gayatri-pertiwi_n_1398879.html|title=George Galloway Weds Fourth Bride Putri Gayatri Pertiwi|work=HuffPost|date=15 April 2012|access-date=19 December 2016}}</ref> The initial event was followed by a traditional [[Javanese people|Javanese]] wedding ceremony in [[Sumatra]] and a [[civil marriage]] at the House of Commons in September 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/george-galloway-shows-off-his-bride-to-the-commons-8167688.html|title=George Galloway shows off his bride to the Commons|work=London Evening Standard|date=24 September 2012|access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Maclean |first=Ruth |date=2024-03-01 |title=Galloway marries for the fourth time |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/galloway-marries-for-the-fourth-time-vmxz5wr655h |access-date=2024-03-01 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Pertiwi worked as a consultant for a Dutch research firm and as a co-presenter of Galloway's TV show ''Sputnik''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Odone |first=Cristina|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100148867/what-is-it-about-gorgeous-george-that-gets-the-girls/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406081931/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100148867/what-is-it-about-gorgeous-george-that-gets-the-girls/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2012|title=What is it about Gorgeous George that gets the girls?|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=3 April 2012|access-date=3 April 2012}}</ref> The couple have three children: a son, Toren Mustaqim, born on 15 July 2014;<!-- "15-month-old" in only RS from 4 November 2015, but in fact born on 15 July. --><ref name="Edwardes" /> a daughter, Orlá Dhien, born in 2017;<ref>{{cite news|last=McIntyre|first=Niamh|title=George Galloway becomes father for fifth time, aged 62|work=The Independent|date=8 April 2017}}</ref> and another daughter, Òban Amaria, born in August 2020.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1292594627661434887|user=georgegalloway|title=Let me introduce you to Òban Amaria aged1 day, by the Grace of God. Sister to Lucy Zein Faris Toren Órla Galloway daughter to me and @GayatriGalloway A million thanks to all well wishers for all kind thoughts and words. May she live long and achieve good things.|author=George Galloway}}</ref>

===Religion===
Galloway has been outspoken in support of religious liberties. Though he has long stated that his religious beliefs are a private matter, Galloway was raised, and identified in 2016, as [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgf66iZDlM8&ab_channel=GeorgeGalloway|title = "Utterly damning & no road back" - George Galloway on Chilcot|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref> In a 2013 interview, Galloway sparked controversy for saying as a Roman Catholic, he would not feel safe in an independent Scotland given the historically bigoted views harboured by many Scottish nationalists towards Catholics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13105420.galloway-attacked-for-snp-catholic-slur/|title=Galloway attacked for SNP Catholic slur|work=Herald Scotland|access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/apr/29/george-galloway-interview-bradford-west|title=George Galloway: 'I believe that on judgment day, people have to answer for what they did'|date=29 April 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref>

At a 2012 rally he said: "We stand for justice and ''[[haqq]]''" and "A Muslim is somebody who is not afraid of earthly power but who fears only the [[Islamic view of the Last Judgment|Judgment Day]]. I'm ready for that, I'm working for that and it's the only thing I fear."<ref>{{cite news|last=Gilligan|first=Andrew|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9176195/A-runaway-victory-for-George-Galloway-and-all-praise-to-Allah.html |title=A runaway victory for George Galloway – and all praise to Allah |work=The Daily Telegraph |date= 30 March 2012|access-date=4 April 2012}}</ref> His last three wives were Muslims, each of whom he married in an Islamic ceremony.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} According to [[Jemima Khan]], writing for the ''New Statesman'' in April 2012, Galloway converted to [[Islam]] around 2000; his ''[[shahada]]h'' was performed in [[Kilburn, London]], in the presence of members of the Muslim Association of Great Britain. Khan claims that while Galloway has informed "those close to him", he chose not to disclose his conversion to the public.<ref>{{cite news |last=Khan |first=Jemima |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics/2012/04/one-day-i%E2%80%99ll-be-national-treasure |title=One day, I'll be a national treasure|work=New Statesman|date=25 April 2012|access-date=23 March 2013}}</ref> Galloway said that the ''shahadah'' had not taken place: "I have never attended any such ceremony in Kilburn, Karachi or Kathmandu. It is simply and categorically untrue." He went on to reiterate his position that religious beliefs are a "personal matter".<ref>{{cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/apr/26/george-galloway-jemima-khan-muslim?newsfeed=true|title=George Galloway denies Jemima Khan's claims of Muslim conversion ceremony|work=The Guardian|date=26 April 2012}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
<!-- 1/   Reference:   https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=TMOATS    -->

==Further reading==
; Author
* ''[[I'm Not the Only One (book)|I'm Not the Only One]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Mr Galloway Goes to Washington]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Fidel Castro Handbook]]'' (2006), MQ Publications. {{ISBN|1-84072-688-1}}
* ''Respect: Documents of the Crisis'' (2008) with Salma Yaqoob and [[Alan Thornett]]
* ''Open Season: The Neil Lennon Story'' (2011) Miranda Media

; Biography
* David Morley ''Gorgeous George: The Life and Adventures of George Galloway'', Politico's Publishing, 2007 {{ISBN|978-1842751855}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|https://www.georgegalloway.com}}
* {{UK MP links 
| parliament = 609
| hansardcurr = 
| hansard = 
| publicwhip = George_Galloway
| theywork = 10218
| record = 
| journalisted = 
}}
* {{Twitter}}
*[https://www.theguardian.com/profile/georgegalloway George Galloway] Contributor page, ''The Guardian'' website
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/author/george-galloway George Galloway] Contributor page, ''The Independent'' website
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-george-galloway | George Galloway}}
* {{IMDb name|1544210|George Galloway}}

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{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Glasgow Kelvin (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Kelvin]]|years=[[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]–[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]}}
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{{George Galloway}}
{{United Kingdom general election, 2005A}}
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