Today, George Galloway announced that he will be standing for Respect in the GLA elections in May.
George Galloway’s bid to be elected to the GLA is being supported by Britiain’s foremost film director Ken Loach (but not standing), Equity President Harry Landis and “comedian” and writer Mark Steel (but not standing), amongst others.
“It’s time to shake things up on the Greater London Assembly and I and my colleagues intend to do just that,” said George Galloway. “We need an Assembly which will support Livingstone when he does the right thing, but which will also keep him in check.”
Thereafter, Galloway threw himself wholeheartedly into his campaign. By hopping onto a plane, to Bahrain:
PRIME MINISTER SHAIKH KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA LAUDED THE VOICES SUPPORTING THE JUST ARAB CAUSES AT ALL INTERNATIONAL GATHERINGS, EMPHASIZING THE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INTER-STATES, PARLIAMENTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTIONS RELATIONS TO REINFORCE SECURITY AND STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN ORDER TO PAVE THE WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND SETTLEMENT OF PEACE- THREATENING CONFLICTS, TOPPED BY THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE.
THIS CAME AS THE PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED AT GUDAIBIYA PALACE ON MONDAY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN BRITAIN GEORGE GALLOWAY IN THE PRESENCE OF MEMBERS OF THE ISLAMIC MIMBAR BLOC AT BAHRAIN REPRESENTATIVES COUNCIL (RC).
SHAIKH KHALIFA LAUDED BAHRAINI-BRITISH TIES AND THE ADVANCED LEVEL OF COOPERATION THEY REACHED, LAUDING THE BRITISH MPS SUPPORT OF ARAB CAUSES.
WHILE DISCUSSING REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, THE PRIME MINISTER EMPHASIZED THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE THAT BRITAIN COULD PLAY IN ATTAINING A VIABLE AND JUST SETTLEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
THE PRIME MINISTER AND AL MEMBAR MPS TOUCHED ON THE EFFORTS MADE BY THE BAHRAINI DELEGATION IN GAZA EXPRESSING PRIDE IN THE INITIATIVE THAT REFLECTED BAHRAINS UNFLINCHING SUPPORT FOR THE PALESTINIAN BROTHERS IN THEIR STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
IN A STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE MEETING, RC SECOND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN DR. SALAH ALI THANKED THE PRIME MINISTER FOR MEETING GEORGE GALLOWAY AND SUPPORTING THE ARAB AND ISLAMIC CAUSES.
Things to do! People to see!
I wonder what the Galloway electoral strategy is. The pro-Jamaat-e-Islami East London Mosque will be able to direct a certain number of votes in his direction. Perhaps Galloway has calculated that this will be sufficient to keep him in business for the next four years.
However, most politicians would put a little bit of effort into getting other candidates, lower down on the list, elected.
(hat tip, tim below)
Gene adds: Wait a minute. Isn’t Bahrain one of those Arab kingdoms that Galloway is always denouncing for sucking up to the US (unlike Syria, the last castle of Arab dignity and Arab rights)? That hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet? Where George Bush is invited to sword-dance with the king?
I get so confused sometimes.
Gene adds: According to the Bahrain-based Gulf Daily News, “[Galloway] is in the Gulf to drum up funding and support for his latest venture, a movie in the style of US film-maker Michael Moore about the Palestinian issue.” He’ll also be visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
First Saddam, then Chavez, now the Gulf sheikhs. Will the third time be a charm?
