[Red Moon]

Minister starts Galloway petition

13 January 2006

A petition accusing MP George Galloway of egotism for entering the Celebrity Big Brother house is being launched by a Cabinet minister.

Chief whip Hilary Armstrong will start the petition in Mr Galloway's Bethnal Green and Bow constituency.

It says the Respect MP has shown a "shameful lack of respect" for his constituents by going on the show.

But Mr Galloway says it is good for politics and his party says his office is working as usual.

'Lounging about'

The new petition urges Mr Galloway to "represent and respect his constituents, not further his own ego, as he is by remaining totally out of touch in the Big Brother house".

Ms Armstrong said: "This week he missed a vote in the House of Commons on Crossrail and next week, he could miss the chance to speak on the Equality Bill and the Work and Families Bill.

"Does he honestly think that his constituents would prefer to see him lounging about in the Big Brother house rather than debating issues as serious as equality?"

Labour MP Ed Balls also criticised Mr Galloway on BBC Question Time saying he was patronising young people if he was seriously trying to engage them in politics by appearing on the show.

Reaching out?

Mr Galloway's spokesman said earlier this week that the constituency office was open as normal.

"It is his hope that Big Brother would provide the kind of platform that the media does not normally provide for him," he said.

"He is coming across as a human being, while the press have tried to demonise him in the past."

But the party is sending a letter of complaint to Channel 4 claiming his conversations with other housemates about the Iraq war and other political issues have not been shown.

Channel 4 has denied censoring Mr Galloway and said highlights were selected on editorial grounds.

'Bullying'

Mr Galloway has been nominated for eviction from the reality television show along with glamour model Jodie Marsh and transvestite Pete Burns.

Miss Marsh's parents have said their daughter is suffering the kind of bullying she endured at school.

Her mother told GMTV: "This is exactly what happened then.

"There was one strong person at school - exactly like George Galloway - that turned everyone against her."

Earlier this week, Mr Galloway said he had expected there to be more debate, and to be asked questions such as what Tony Blair was like or about the Iraq war.

But, Mr Galloway, told actress Rula Lenska: "Someone of my age and class is not used to young women talking as they do in here, with no orifice left unopened."

He complained about Miss Marsh's "extraordinary stories which involve every orifice and fluid known to man", adding that he hoped his daughter never spoke like that.

Source: BBC