Galloway rules himself out of bid to be local MP

'An Evening with George Galloway' at The Swan, Dobcross. : Michael Powis (landlord), George Galloway, Peter Young (organiser), Tim Newbold (landlord).

FORMER Respect MP George Galloway fielded questions from punters at the Swan Inn, Dobcross, at a charity dinner to raise money for the village’s famous band.

Dozens packed a function room at the pub, on The Square, for a meal and a question and answer session with the controversial Mr Galloway in aid of The Dobcross Silver Band.

He said his party would be fielding more candidates in Oldham at the local elections next year and he refused to rule out the possibility of him standing for Mayor of London in June next year.

Respect candidate Tariq Ullah stood in St Mary’s ward in this year’s council elections.

Mr Galloway said: “Our candidate did very well and came second. We will have more people at local level next time and will be here fighting again.

“Oldham West are likely to have a new candidate next time and we would love to have someone competing for the parliamentary seat, but it won’t be me.

“My future looks like it will be in London but you can never tell. By-elections can come up whenever so nothing is chiselled in stone.

“We’re very seriously discussing me standing for Mayor of London. Nothing is final yet but there is a strong chance that will be my next fight.”

Mr Galloway was in Oldham during the election campaign to support Mr Ullah, but he was blown away by his first visit to Saddleworth.

He said: “Pete Young asked me to come during the election when I still thought I’d be living in Bradford but the tickets sold out very quickly so I didn’t want to let him down.

“It was a long drive but the meat and potato pie made it worth it as did the great rendition of Red Red Rose. I’m delighted to be here. The views across the moors and into the valleys were spectacular.”

Mr Galloway, who was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 for his outspoken comments about the Iraq war, is currently under investigation by the police over his use of parliamentary expenses.

He is also looking to contest his 11,000-vote general election defeat to Labour’s Nassem Shah in Bradford West over alleged malpractice surrounding postal votes.