Ugly times on way for Gorgeous George

• The real Big Brother awaits George Galloway as he is evicted from TV show

• Serious Fraud Office are looking into MP's involvement in Iraq

• Meanwhile, constituents bemoan their MP's shenanigans on Big Brother

Key quote

"The documents produced in the US all relate to legitimate oil deals, all of which went through the sanctions committee in New York. I am really puzzled to see where any crime has been committed. It is a waste of police and officers' time." - Respect party spokesman Ron McKay

Story in full

GEORGE Galloway was last night evicted from the Channel Four's Celebrity Big Brother house to discover he is facing a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as well as ridicule by his parliamentary colleagues and constituents after leaving the Big Brother house.

Before the results of yesterday's Big Brother vote was announced, the maverick MP had said of the eviction poll: "I don't like to lose elections. I see this as an election and would like to win it."

But last night, as he became the fourth celebrity to leave the show, his standing with the political electorate was also under threat as further scandal broke around him.

Mr Galloway was facing serious criticism after video footage emerged showing him meeting with Uday Hussein, the now dead son of the former Iraqi dictator ,Saddam.

The SFO sent investigators to Washington to gather documents from the US senate about the oil-for-food scandal, under which businesses and individuals are accused of benefiting financially from the scheme set up to let Saddam sell oil to buy food and medicine in spite of the sanctions imposed against his regime in Iraq.

The SFO is following up two reports published last year in Washington, which detailed evidence that Mr Galloway's wife and his political campaign organisation received large amounts of money from Saddam's regime under the programme. Mr Galloway's wife has denied the allegations.

A report is expected within weeks on whether individuals and companies in the UK, including the Respect MP, should be subject to an extensive criminal investigation.

Ron McKay, a spokesman for Mr Galloway's political party, Respect, said: "The documents produced in the US all relate to legitimate oil deals, all of which went through the sanctions committee in New York.

"I am really puzzled to see where any crime has been committed. It is a waste of police and officers' time."

As news broke of the looming SFO investigation, the video of the MP for Bethnal Green and Bow emerged yesterday showing Mr Galloway laughing and talking with Saddam's son Uday. The meeting took place at a palace in Baghdad in 1999, and the TV footage shows Mr Galloway shaking hands with Uday Hussein and calling him "Excellency".

At one point during the conversation Mr Galloway said: "I'd like you to know that we are with you 'til the end."

The two men also made unflattering comments about the United States and joked about losing weight, going bald and how difficult it is to give up smoking cigars.

The Iraqi people nicknamed Uday Hussein "the Wolf" after his cruel reputation. He is known to have killed thousands of people under his father's regime and even tortured Iraqi footballers and athletes who failed to meet his expectations when he was responsible for the sports.

The television interview was smuggled out of the country after Saddam's regime fell. It was filmed by a television company owned by Uday, who was shot dead by US troops in 2003.

Mr Galloway had met Saddam in person in 1994, when he famously said to the dictator: "Sir, allow me to salute your courage, strength and indefatigability."

The MP has repeatedly denied that he knowingly had any part in the oil-for-food scandal. In a previous statement he said: "I have never seen a barrel of oil, never bought one, never sold one, and neither has anyone on my behalf."

However, a Commons watchdog is considering investigating official complaints that Mr Galloway did not declare benefits he received under the Iraqi regime.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Sir Philip Mawer, said he would complete his investigation as quickly as possible as long as he could do so without prejudicing any legal proceedings. He also emphasised that he would require the co-operation of all parties in order to achieve this.

The Commons watchdog is communicating with the US bodies that published reports concerning the oil-for-food programme.

In May 2005 Galloway famously debated his case in the US senate. In a fiery appearance before a US senate committee which accused him of profiting from the Iraqi regime he called them a "lickspittle Republican committee".

The latest controversy over Mr Galloway emerged while the veteran MP was still inside the Big Brother house, where his antics had attracted considerable criticism.

Before yesterday's nominations, viewers had watched him take part in a heated argument with the other celebrity housemates.

He has been cold-shouldered by his fellow housemates after the series of vicious outbursts.

He tackled the singer Preston, accusing him of double standards and being a "lying plutocrat" before turning on Michael Barrymore over cigarettes.

"You're a real cigarette addict and you ought to address the fact that you've no loyalty to anybody," he told the former TV presenter.

In turn, Preston branded him a "school bully" and said: "It must be stressful for him now because he knows he's blown it. He will leave here a villain because he cheated and bullied."

Last night voters from Bethnal Green and Bow expressed their dismay at the behaviour of their MP who has pretended to be a cat and dressed up in a red spandex leotard for the programme.