Posted on 10/23/2003 8:06:15 AM PDT by areafiftyone
George Galloway has been expelled from the Labour Party in the wake of his outspoken comments on the Iraq war.
The MP for Glasgow Kelvin had already branded a disciplinary hearing a "show trial".
He said he would "certainly" run as an independent at the next election and that Labour would rue the day it decided to throw him out.
Mr Galloway faced five charges relating to a television interview during the war in which he accused Mr Blair and George Bush of acting "like wolves" in invading Iraq.
The charges faced by Mr Galloway were understood to be that:
The accusations were judged to break a rule which bans "bringing the Labour Party into disrepute by behaviour that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the party".
There is no right of appeal against the ruling, although it is possible that it could be challenged in the courts.
Mr Galloway said: "This was a politically motivated kangaroo court whose verdict had been written in advance in the best tradition of political show trials."
He went on to warn that Labour might well act against other MPs opposed to the Iraq war such as Glenda Jackson and Bob Marshall-Andrews.
And he added that the anti-war movement "is not going away".
"Labour will rue the day that they took this decision," said Mr Galloway.
Three members of Labour's 11-man National Constitutional Committee heard evidence both from Mr Galloway and from deputy general secretary Chris Lennie.
Character witnesses for the MP included former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn.
'Demeaning'
The disciplinary committee was made up of Labour "rank-and-file" members Noel Jenkins, Rose Burley and Lee Vasey.
On Wednesday, Mr Galloway said: "While I have no complaint about the conduct of the tribunal itself, the evidence of the Labour Party's only witness, it's own deputy general secretary, was a sad, degrading and demeaning affair.
"I felt sadness that the Labour leadership had put up this man to try to make a silk purse out of the ugliest sow's ear I have ever come across in 30 years in politics.
"Every fact that could be twisted, every motive that could be distorted or invented, every twist of words that could be perpetrated for hour after hour was tried by the Labour Party deputy general secretary.
"This show trial is about my views, honestly held and honestly expressed, which were as it happens the views of millions. "
Mr Galloway gave his evidence to the party disciplinary hearing on Thursday morning.
Ahead of the hearing, a Labour spokesman said: "George will be treated exactly like any other party member.
"George's appearance before the committee is not in any way linked to his views on Iraq."
Because he was kicked out by his own party. In order to do the same to Kennedy etc. the democrat party would have to have at least a scintilla of honor. Since we all know that it doesn't there is no hope of them doing the same.
Man these leftists are cheeky. Galloway gets caught making inflamatory statements, taking money from enemy combatants, and inciting British forces to disobey their own orders...and what does Galloway do?!Why, he goes and slams his own Party for throwing him out!
How dare they punish him, a pure leftist!
Guess what, George, it is a political show trial because it's the decision of a political party.
He went on to warn that Labour might well act against other MPs opposed to the Iraq war such as Glenda Jackson and Bob Marshall-Andrews.
It wasn't just your opposition, you nutburger.
"Labour will rue the day that they took this decision," said Mr Galloway.
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