[Mac1]

Galloway is not a member of the government; he is a single MP representing the "Respect" party which is a single issue (anti Iraq war)party. The government presently in power is the Labour party. He doesn't have any powers as such but can vote on new laws as an MP - Member of Parliament. The two are not the same.

[Peisistratus]

"Galloway is not a member of the government;"

He's a member of one of the two legislative houses in the UK government.

"The two are not the same."

Yes, they are. Only in a very narrow and unwarranted definition of the word "government" would that only apply to the chief executive. A legislature such as the Commons creates laws. That is a function of a government. You're limiting this word to the peculiar definition used in British politics, not the real definition of the word, which is more broad.