George Galloway

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Calls to reinstate Galloway fail
DEBORAH SUMMERS
The Herald, 11 June 2003

GEORGE Galloway yesterday failed to fend off a Labour party investigation
into his links with Saddam Hussein as party leaders rejected calls to
reinstate the rebel MP.

Supporters of the anti-war left winger used a monthly meeting of the Labour
party's national executive committee, attended by the prime minister and
four other cabinet ministers, to demand Mr Galloway be allowed back into the
party.

However, despite two attempts to foster his return, the Glasgow Kelvin MP
last night remained outside the fold after his promised union support failed
to materialise.

Last night Mr Galloway said he was "bitterly disappointed" at the outcome,
but welcomed assurances that the inquiry would be completed in time for his
reselection.

He was suspended from the party earlier this year over claims that he urged
Arab nations to fight against British and American soldiers in Iraq.

Speaking after the meeting, David Triesman, Labour party general secretary,
said he saw no reason why the inquiry should not be complete in the summer
and rejected claims the committee was dragging its feet to damage Mr
Galloway's reselection chances.

After the meeting, Mr Galloway told The Herald: "I think it reflects very
badly on the Labour party. It's a double whammy for the gagging of free
speech by the executive and that cannot do the Labour party any credit."

Mr Galloway called a move which precluded discussion as a "rather sordid
manoeuvre".