Mrluvaluva
17-07-2007, 10:33 AM
From Sky News
George Galloway looks set to be suspended from the House of Commons for 18 days over allegations he broke Parliamentary rules by taking money from Saddam Hussein's regime.
The Committee On Standards & Privileges criticised the MP for "concealing the true source of Iraqi funding" to a charity he set up.
And he was also condemned for failing to co-operate with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
The committee said he should be banned for 18 sitting days after considering the results of an investigation by sleaze watchdog Sir Philip Mawer.
Its conclusion will be debated by MPs, who will then rule on the matter.
Suspension would come into effect in October, when the House resumes business.
Mr Galloway, the Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, denies benefiting through the UN's oil-for-food programme.
He was condemned by the Charity Commission for "unacceptably" failing to prevent his Mariam Appeal being bankrolled with money from Saddam's regime.
He may even have known that the campaign had received at least £190,000 in improper donations, the commission found.
The Respect MP, who dismissed the commission's allegations against him as "palpably false", has repeatedly denied receiving any funds from the Iraqi regime, or taking part in any oil deal.
Sir Philip's investigation also took into account evidence from a US Senate Sub-Committee which accused Mr Galloway and the Mariam Appeal of being granted oil allocations by Saddam's regime.
Mr Galloway dismissed those claims in a famously fiery appearance before the sub-committee in 2005.
Article (http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1275543,00.html)
George Galloway looks set to be suspended from the House of Commons for 18 days over allegations he broke Parliamentary rules by taking money from Saddam Hussein's regime.
The Committee On Standards & Privileges criticised the MP for "concealing the true source of Iraqi funding" to a charity he set up.
And he was also condemned for failing to co-operate with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
The committee said he should be banned for 18 sitting days after considering the results of an investigation by sleaze watchdog Sir Philip Mawer.
Its conclusion will be debated by MPs, who will then rule on the matter.
Suspension would come into effect in October, when the House resumes business.
Mr Galloway, the Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, denies benefiting through the UN's oil-for-food programme.
He was condemned by the Charity Commission for "unacceptably" failing to prevent his Mariam Appeal being bankrolled with money from Saddam's regime.
He may even have known that the campaign had received at least £190,000 in improper donations, the commission found.
The Respect MP, who dismissed the commission's allegations against him as "palpably false", has repeatedly denied receiving any funds from the Iraqi regime, or taking part in any oil deal.
Sir Philip's investigation also took into account evidence from a US Senate Sub-Committee which accused Mr Galloway and the Mariam Appeal of being granted oil allocations by Saddam's regime.
Mr Galloway dismissed those claims in a famously fiery appearance before the sub-committee in 2005.
Article (http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1275543,00.html)