CONTROVERSIAL politician George Galloway locked horns with Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain today.
The broadcasters grilled the leader of the Workers Party of Britain after his by-election win in Rochdale in February propelled him back into parliament.
Richard and Susanna took divisive Galloway, 69, to task over comments he made about the tyrant Saddam Hussein in 1994, four years after the Gulf War.
During a meeting with the former Iraqi leader, who was hanged in 2006 after being found guilty of crimes against humanity, Galloway said: “Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.”
Today, Galloway reiterated his past stance that his words were aimed at the Iraqi people and not Hussein.
Madeley branded Hussein a “monster” and said: “Everybody makes mistakes. I’m just wondering if you look back at your political career if that was one of them?”
Galloway fired back: “I’ve made lots of mistakes but not that one, that jibe doesn’t quite have the sting it used to have.”
He then sniped that the host could have found some new “cuttings” to throw at him.
Earlier in the interview Galloway outlined his politics, saying he was determined to replace the Labour Party, which he described as a “parody of what Labour should be”.
He said: “I’m not a worshipper of dead Russians and Germans, I’m a follower of Mr Tony Benn. We are the embodiment if you like of Mr Benn’s vision of Labour. There’s a lot of takers for it.”
Left-wing Benn was a cabinet minister in the 60s and was a staunch believer in democratic socialism.
The GMB anchors also quizzed Galloway about former British National Party leader Nick Griffin’s endorsement of his politics going into the by-election.
Griffin tweeted on the day of the election: “If you follow me in Rochdale, get out and vote for George Galloway today.
“He’s not perfect, but it’s the best way by far to stick two fingers up to the rotten political elite and their fake news media cronies.”
Galloway argued that he had no control over what others say about him.
Check your facts before you come on air. You’re old enough to know better
George Galloway
He said: “Make up your mind, am I the champion of the Muslims or am I endorsed by a guy that hates Muslims?
“He issued a tweet. How am I responsible for that?”
Asking a hypothetical question, Galloway then said:
“If Nick Griffin said today Susanna Reid was his favourite television presenter…”
Reid said: “I would absolutely reject…”
Raising his voice, Galloway said: “As I absolutely reject it!”
He told the hosts he’d rather discuss former England cricket ace Monty Panesar’s standing as a WPB candidate in Southall.
The frosty interview ended with Galloway criticising the show’s research, telling Madeley: “Check your facts before you come on air. You’re old enough to know better”.
Later in the show, Madeley described the exchange as “fireworks”.
POLITICAL CAREER
Rochdale is the fifth constituency served by Galloway since he was first elected in Glasgow Hillhead in 1987.
Initially a Labour MP, he was expelled from the party over his prominent opposition to the Iraq War, in 2003, and stood as an independent before joining the Respect Party and becoming its leader in 2013.
I’ve made lots of mistakes but not that one, that jibe doesn’t quite have the sting it used to have
George Galloway
He has been a divisive figure throughout his career, supporting Putin’s Russia and drawing condemnation for visiting dictator Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 1994 and 2002.
He was also friends with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, Venezuelan despot Hugo Chavez and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
With his latest triumph, he has a new platform and wasted no time in courting controversy, telling crowds in Rochdale: “This is for Gaza.”
