Greg Hurst, Political Correspondent
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George Galloway said that MPs should give him a medal for his work on Iraq and not suspend him from the House of Commons for 18 days, as recommended today by a disciplinary committee.
The MP for the anti-war alliance Respect party, faces the suspension after a committee of senior MPs accused him of secretly accepting funding from Saddam Hussein’s regime.
The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee said there was “strong circumstantial evidence” that Mr Galloway “connived” with the Saddam’s regime to accept financial backing for his campaign against western sanction on Iraq.
It accused the former Labour MP who returned to the Commons in 2005, of damaging the reputation of the Commons, saying he must apologise and be suspended for 18 sitting days when MPs return from their summer recess.
Effectively this means from October 8 to November 5, since the Commons usually sits for four days a week with occasional Fridays for private member’s Bills.
First, however there will be a lively Commons debate - probably next week - in which MPs are asked to approve his suspension and Mr Galloway has the opportunity to apologise. He gave notice today that he intends to make one of his trademark speeches, likely to be long, fiery and defiant.
He gave a flavour of his response in a series of combative television interviews today, protesting that he was the victim of false allegations and claimed he was faced being suspended for fighting to clear his name.
Speaking outside the Commons he said that what had upset the committee was that “I robustly defended myself” and if it were not for his criticism of the process, commission and witnesses, “I would merely been asked to apologise”.
He emphasised that it was found again that he did “not benefit by a single penny” from Iraq, from the oil for food programme or any other Iraqi source.
Mr Galloway said that he would not allow people to make false allegations against him. “I challenged everything that Sir Humphrey and Sir Bufton and Sir Tufton put to me because the points they were putting to me were false. I will not allow people to make false allegations against me," he said.
“I am not a punchbag. If you aim low blows at me I will fight back. That’s what I’ve done and that’s what I’ve been suspended for.”
If he is suspended, he said: “It will be painful, I assure you, but I intend to stagger on regardless.”

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Sir Galloway is the man of this century. He is brave and innocent man and victim of zionist propoganda. His bravery humbled me. He is a straight talker. When presidents were scared to speak the truth against Israel, he stood up. I salute him. He deserves medal for oppossing the war .
Dr. Del, NY, USA
Mr Galloway is a cut above the rest in modern politics. He is a brave and innocent man who is living proof that the system of governance in Britain is far from being free and fair and just. He has fought tooth and nail for the justice of the people of Iraq and deserves a resounding standing ovation.
Fungai, Darlington, UK
George Galloway is a very brave man not many would face up to the pressure he has been under over the last few years. He is right he does deserve a medal for all the work he has done to show us the problem Tony B has caused us over the few years. I now fear going only public transport system while Tony B swans round (driven) to all of his new 5 jobs, earning a mint go figure!!! Galloway for Major of London I say!!!
Harry, Hravesend , Kent, UK
Galloway is a brave man and majority of British public agree with him. He stood up for what is right. Galloway speaks for justice, truth and sanity.
How could you punish someone when there is no evidence. How could you punish someone when someone else may have done some thing wrong. Even that is not proven. The truth is Galloway is innocent and all this is done to shut him up.
As a conservative party member, I am baffled by our leadership not to take the stand Galloway has, as now the truth has come out. I am afraid we are heading for defeat if we dont change our direction.
Vote Boris, london, UK
Doc C, Alexandria, VA, USA
Your Quote 'Mr. Galloway said that the Iraqi people loved Saddam, and that the Coalition would be repulsed by his loyal armies in a bloodbath. This clearly wasn't true'
Seems to me we have a bloodbath on our hands so perhaps, contrary to your opinion, Mr.Galloway was right after all.
Ajer, Basingstoke, UK
Wow! absolutely beautifully said, Lydia, Brisbane, Australia.
Thank you very much indeed!
Stanzler, NY, USA
I understand and agree, he deserves it; but as long as coprophilia's ok that's ok by me.
Charles, London,
Hell hath no fury like the British members of Commons who are stuck with Bush, like Brer Rabbit and the tar baby in Iraq. They cannot extricate themselves from the quagmire of hell, without losing their very hides in the process. The illegal invasion of Iraq was to steal Iraqâs oil and anyone with half a brain could see that and realize that any attack on Iraq would only throw it up for grabs with no way of guaranteeing that Bush and Blair would be the winners and the losers would be the innocent women and children of Iraq.
George was by far the most eloquent and vocal of critics and history will be kind to him and hail him a hero for giving voice to the threat we find ourselves in now that these fools have smashed open a hornetâs nest. The Commons was looking for a reason, any reason to punish Galloway for not falling in line. They are themselves bathed in the blood of some 600,000 Iraqi women and children and are responsible for the destruction of the cradle of civilization while Iran will be the only beneficiary of all that blood shed in vain and in our name.
Lydia, Brisbane, Australia
I don't agree with everything George Galloway says but I believe he is a man of honour unlike many of his fellow MPs. Of course it was only a matter of time before they stitched him up and I am sure the majority of people are wise enough to understand what is going on.
Ajer, Basingstoke, UK
All i will say is that UK needs more people like Mr George Galloway. He is one great man who deserves more then just a 'medal'. He is most incredibly courageous man.
Mohammed, London, UK
When will George Galloway finally stop perverting each and everything into an Iraq war issue? This suspension is NOT about him being against the war, it's about him "secretly accepting funding from Saddam Husseinâs regime". Surely that's no more honourable than telling Saddam salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability."
Paulina Smid, London, UK
I am astonished at the comments against George Gallway and to go as far as calling him a traitor! Its simply absurd. The simple fact is and still remains; he did ânot benefit by a single pennyâ. Frankly, I think the people who should be put to trial are Tony Blair and George Bush for all the civilian lives lost in Iraq as a result of this war. Finaly, I think the Parlimentary commitees (if at all serious) should investigate the "Cash for Peers" and conduct its own investigation relating to "Cash for Honours" !!
Zein , London, UK
>Anyone who has shaken the bloody hand of Saddam Hussein >should disappear from public life forever.
>B J Deller, Marbella, Spain
What, you mean Donald Rumsfeld, President Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Chirac the CIA, MI6 and all the other's who supported Iraq during the 1980's?
Shareef, London, UK
So corruption and deceit are fine charachteristics in an MP because they oppose the war in Iraq? He deserves the money he has allegedly obtained from the previous Iraqi regime? Speak up for what's right and ban him altogether.
Chaz, London,
The arrogance of this belicose man is tiresome as is the left - wing pathology that fuels it.
Daibhidh MacAdhaimh, London, England
Mr. Galloway said that the Iraqi people loved Saddam, and that the Coalition would be repulsed by his loyal armies in a bloodbath. This clearly wasn't true.
Curious. In Marxist countries, traitors to their regime are mercilessly killed, and frequently tortured first. In the West, a well known and long standing traitor cannot be so much as censured without a public outcry from the Left. What's maddening is how they seem to almost always get away with it. It's as if we liked for them to treat us like fools.
Doc C, Alexandria, VA, USA
Its strange that on circumstantial evidence only an MP can be punished when even violent criminals and rapists are not treated in such manner. Part of the general malaise in our country
Popo Pruthi, London,
He is absolutely right he deserves it by all mean
koozko, Male', Maldives
Why can't these buffoons leave George alone. It takes courage to stand up for what is right and George is a very brave man. Most of the other members of the house are too concerned about their careers, reputations and incomes to speak up for what's right and decent. Shame on them.
Beverley Kirwan, Preston, Britain
Bravo George! Everything the man said about Iraq turned out to be true, he is the hero of the anti-war movement and has more morality in his little finger than the rest of Britain's MP's put together.
Maddy, Bristol,
I wish galloway had more decent polotitins behind him to make his respect party stronger and a worthy party to vote for
get Kilroy-silk to join and toney benn to name but a few.
I would vote for the respect party and I am no asian fan ,far from it.
Keep up your fight George,you have a LOT of genuine supporters.
John Richards, Liverpool, Merseyside
Anything to distract the public from discussing and campaigning for trial in a court of law of those responsible for the blood baths and desperate UK cruelty in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.
We will never learn: we are a brutish selfish nation and only out for sacpegoats not justice.
Noone spoke up more for the Iraqis when destroyed by economic sanctions and against invading their country than Geoge Galloway: that is why the hyocrites in power hate him: he showed what craven immoral cowards they are.
Dr,.Chris Burns-Cox, Wotton-under-Edge, GLOS UK
Galloway: "I deserve medal, not ban, for Iraq."
Medals appropriately inscribed "For Vaguery in the Field" are awarded to those who are compromised by the Economic gift men of The New World Order. Upon receipt of such merit, you call at E.N.Rothschild's, Lazard Freres, or Foreign & Commonwealth Money Making Machines, once a year, collect the money and then..........go home!
George Galloway cannot be compromised by the Economic gift men, they tried everything and still try every possible means to compromise him and they have failed.
When the Economic gift men fail to achieve their tasks, they pass them over to the jackals. The MI6, MI5, CIA, the Irgun or the Stern Gang, otherwise known as Mossad for further action.
The White House and Whitehall cannot carry on an Iraqi war with George Galloway around. He is, like Dr David Kelly, Robin Cook, John Smith, Wm Duisenberg, and many others, a witness for the prosecution. One more heart attack, or a suicide, the problem solved!
George Fondis, Portishead, , North Sopmerset BS20 7DY
Anyone who has shaken the bloody hand of Saddam Hussein should disappear from public life forever. There can be no excuses and Saddam's crimes were known many years ago. How anyone can vote for this man, I do not know.
Let us hope that justice is served.
B J Deller, Marbella, Spain