George Galloway made a valiant last stand on College Green yesterday to explain why he was right about almost everything. He stood, as gorgeous as always, in a pool of sunlight that seemed specifically designed for him. He was perfectly placed for the TV cameras, with Big Ben’s tower in the background. The only thing missing was the white charger and the sword of truth.

But who needs such cheap props when you are Gorgeous George? He was looking cool in his dark suit, dark shirt and black suede shoes. I must admit that I was disappointed he was not wearing his red leotard or, indeed, meowing. It was pure yowl yesterday for it is Gorgeous George against the world, yet again. This time a parliamentary committee has accused him of secretly accepting funding from Saddam Hussein’s regime. His punishment is to be suspended from the Commons for 18 whole days.

As George is rarely in the chamber (at least when I am watching) I cannot imagine that this will make much difference to him. He certainly did not seem too distraught. “It will be painful,” he said happily. “But I intend to struggle on regardless.”

First, though, George will defend himself in the Commons. “I will be speaking for a long time,” he warned us. “Bring your cocoa!” The speech will not be about him (this would be a novelty). “I will be putting the war on trial.” Obviously. Everything is about the war now. The war and him. Indeed, that explains the committee’s report. “A jury of my political enemies came to this conclusion. This is a committee of pro-war politicians working in a pro-war Parliament. Now if that had been ten good men and true from the British public, they would have come to a different conclusion.”

He was ranting effortlessly, egging himself on. The journalists were gathered round, many crouching before him. It looked a little Jesus-like. Whatever you think of George, he is a master storyteller. The only problem is the story itself, which is always about George, the misunderstood visionary, the heroic Good Samaritan, the only one who got it right on Iraq. “If those people had listened to me, hundreds of thousands of people would be alive in Iraq,” he noted, for perhaps the fifth or sixth time. “They should be striking a medal for me for my work on Iraq, not suspending me.”

Does he hold all other MPs in contempt then? “I’ll let you know a secret,” he noted conspiratorially. “The majority of people in this country have nothing but contempt for the people there.” He threw an arm towards the Palace of Westminster.

George has “very considerable interface” with the British public and knows what they think. Parliament was corrupt. You could buy a seat in the Lords. You could buy a pass. Why only a few weeks ago MPs had given a “tear-stained ovation” to Tony Blair. George says that he is a war criminal. He liked the sound of that (there is nothing like a libel to perk up a sentence) and so said it again.

He denies accepting funds from Saddam. I was not surprised to find that it is all a plot. “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!”

Then, suddenly, he swung into wounded prizefighter mode. “I am not a punchbag,” he cried. “If you aim low blows at me I will fight back.” I thought for a moment he was going to punch himself, just to show us what it felt like.

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