First Bradford, now the rest of the North, warns George Galloway

RESPECT’S George Galloway returned to the House of Commons as a Bradford MP today insisting he was “just the advance party” for the army “mustering in the North”.

The MP, who overturned a 5,000 majority to storm home with a 10,000-vote lead in last month’s by-election, claimed voters were “alienated and discontented”.

Speaking at Parliament’s St Stephen’s entrance, Mr Galloway vowed to use his first week back in the Commons to raise the war in Afghanistan, likening it to Vietnam.

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He said: “It is good to be back but I’m just the advance party. There’s an army mustering in the North and in the great industrial and post-industrial cities of this country, an army of discontented, alienated people who feel that this place has let them down, it has failed the country and it has failed the people.

“I notice that New Labour is terrified of any further by-elections and I can understand why because this concept that I have coined, it’s rather rude, that three cheeks of the same backside pretty much sums them up as far as most people in the country are concerned.”

Mr Galloway, accompanied by his fourth wife, 27-year-old Dutch/Indonesian anthropologist Putri Pertiwi, said he would press for action in the “wake of the frankly disastrous military situation which is becoming like Vietnam 1968”.

He added: “We have to get out of Afghanistan.”

Mr Galloway’s Bradford West win was one of the biggest by-election shocks of modern times. He polled 18,341 votes to the 8,201 for Labour candidate Imran Hussain.

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He told reporters today that Bradford was “bitterly sinking into a blackhole” in comparison to the progress being made in neighbouring Leeds but since he had been elected the “Bradford Bulls have won four games in a row and Bradford City Football Club has won”.

In an interview with the Big Issue, out today, Mr Galloway claimed he is the “Robin Hood” of British politics.

He said: “If I was a bigamist, I’d be under arrest. If I was a tax dodger, I’d be under arrest.

“I’m the most inquired-into individual in British politics. By a country mile.

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“If I did things wrong, be sure I’d be already in big trouble.

“We have a prevailing orthodoxy: there’s a few inches of political life in which it’s acceptable to have a different view but if you challenge the fundamentals of policy, you’re an outlaw. You’re Robin Hood.”

The 57 year old, originally from Dundee, earned the nickname “Gorgeous George” after admitting to having sexual intercourse with women in Greece while he was in Mykonos for a conference in 1987.

He achieved notoriety for his conduct in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2006, when he pretended to purr like a cat and lick cream from actress Rula Lenska’s hands on the show.

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When asked to explain the “effect” he has on women, Mr Galloway said: “I’m the artist formerly known as Gorgeous George. I prefer the company of women. Because I don’t drink, I don’t swear, I’m not crude, sometimes male company turns me off. And from an early age I was the person who drove everybody home and I always saved the prettiest girl to drop off last.”

Mr Galloway also told The Big Issue “you can have a whale of a time” without drink and drugs.

He said: “Music, making love, children: it’s all you need really. I love children very much and hope to have more. Your own children and grandchildren literally piling on top of you on the sofa is as good as it gets. It’s far more fun than getting tanked down the old Bull ‘n’ Bush.”

Mr Galloway was flanked by the Labour MP for the neighbouring constituency of Bradford South, Gerry Sutcliffe, and Father of the House, Tory MP Sir Peter Tapsell, as he entered the Commons’ Chamber to be sworn.

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He presented his certificate of return before taking the affirmation, saying: “I George Galloway do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law.”

There were quiet murmurs of “hear, hear” and Education Secretary Michael Gove, who had just finished answering questions at the despatch box, offered his congratulations.

Mr Galloway then walked to the Speaker’s chair where he shook hands with Commons Speaker John Bercow.