Galloway faces 18-day Commons ban over appeal

Published on Tuesday 17 July 2007 13:51

CONTROVERSIAL MP George Galloway is facing a four-week suspension from the House of Commons for failing to declare his interest in the Mariam Appeal to help victims of the Iraq war.

The Parliamentary authorities accused him of "damaging the reputation of the House" and failing to fully declare the true source of the money used to pay for the appeal.

The 18-working day expulsion requires the backing of MPs, and would take effect when MPs return to London on October 8.

Mr Galloway, now the Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, strongly denies any wrongdoing.

And he also rejects claims that some of the money came via the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein from the United Nations Oil For Food programme.

However, the House of Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges said today: "There is strong circumstantial evidence that the Oil For Food programme was used by the Iraqi government, with Mr Galloway's connivance, to fund the campaigning activities of the Mariam Appeal."

It also said: "In acting as he did, Mr Galloway breached the advocacy rule and damaged the reputation of the House of Commons. We believe he was complicit in the concealment of the true source of funds for the Mariam Appeal."