Galloway’s former secretary in court

Aisha Ali-Khan, 33, of Keighley, West Yorkshire, who worked with the Respect MP, faces accusations of encouraging misconduct in a public office.

She is also accused of encouraging the obtaining of personal data without consent on or about August 24 2012.

Detective Inspector Afiz Khan, 46, known as Alfie, is based within the Metropolitan Police’s specialist operations unit, and is suspended.

He has been charged with two counts of misconduct in a public office and four counts of data protection offences between May and September last year.

The pair appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and Deputy Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot sent the case to Southwark Crown Court.

Their next hearing is on August 28. Unconditional bail was renewed.

The case follows claims by Mr Galloway last year that he was the victim of a dirty tricks campaign.

On Tuesday, two of the five Respect councillors in Bradford were suspended.

Ishtiaq Ahmed and Mohammad Shabbir have said they are unaware of the reason for their suspension and the party has offered no public explanation other than to say there will be a wider investigation into attempts to “subvert the party”.

Coun Shabbir was among Respect figures who criticised Mr Galloway for setting out plans to run for London Mayor in 2016.