Today's final post about George Galloway

I promise. I just found his official rationale for going on the show, on the RESPECT website.

http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=960

If you can get past "Firstly it was for Palestine" without very nearly snorting out a bit of your own brain at the naked, misguided pomp of it all, then you're a better person than I.

(£783, by the way.)

Comments

[Katie Weiss]

I think George is the only sane and interseting one in that house along with Pete, they are amusing and most importantly conflicting. I admire George for announcing publically his views on being a pro palestine and truly represents the britain we want, beacuse he's not afraid of criticism or accused of being anti-sematic beacuse he fights for palestine. Because those who pussy foot around those political areas are just shaming jews in britain and as one im glad for George. Also he puts jodie in her place and causes the drama we all love to see, so lay off him Hugo.

[The Fourth Magi]

Does this mean that we shall be seeing George queuing up for the open auditions for X factor in the summer? I do hope so.

[Joon Flowers]

I am pleased George is raising money for a Palestian charity and also getting some publicity for them. I had not heard of that particular charity before but I intend to make a donation to them. By the way, I think George Galloway is brilliant for appearing on Big Brother. His constituents are being looked after by his team and he is not missing much in the House of Commons, in spite of what the papers have said. It was reported in the press that he will miss a vital debate on Thursday. This is just not true!

[Vilos Cohaagen]

Given the absolutely nonsense defence Galloway has made for his BB appearance, I particularly liked reading what Socialist Worker had to say about the entire show back in 2000. Some dissension in the internationale?

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=1160

[Phil B]

'If I win it will be my greatest election victory since, well, my last one.'
His modesty is only one of his many virtues...

[Luke Mercer]

I think the previous people are right. George Galloway is the interesting one in the house and his reasons for going in there are admirable. I hope he stayes there a while longer.

[Ben Kind]

I suppose it's all about degrees if you think George is missing a vital debate on Thursday. George has continuously spoken out against the Crossrail initiative, even citing to the Evening Standard that it would devistate the East End on its current route. The debate on Thursday is a debate on Crossrail, only George will not be there. So Joon, I think your wrong about George missing vital debates.

(One could also count the debates on "Security and energy supply", the care of the dying, and family justice in the courts as vital to many of his constituents)

[OldAsiaHand]

Never seen celeb BB before and do not watch reality TV. However, I completely disagree with the conventional criticism of George Galloway. He may be an opportunist, a champagne socialist, a scoundrel even, but he gets my respect! He had the guts to stand up to the US on their home front and give them some home truths. All right, self serving, but nevertheless correct. He is obviously articulate and an able analyst. I hope he stays a little longer. He may make a few people think about the evils of our illegal, immoral war in Iraq. He and Rula are the only sane ones amongst a pile of flotsam. Unfortunately, I am off to Hong Kong today so I will not see anymore.

[Fiona Carrington]

I too hope George Galloway stays awhile, if only to prevent the conversation descending into inaudible dross too early on. If he won, however, I fear he would take it, gloatingly I suspect, as justification of his political stance. Claiming to have been granted a mandate by ‘the public’ to continue his dubious political tirades. I only wish Big Brother would instigate some sort of ‘oil-for-food’ game where the housemates have to run across the garden decanting barrels of oil without spilling them, or maybe a spelling competition where we could watch Jodie have a go at indefatigability. Best of all, perhaps, Oona King could be introduced as a surprise housemate; she, after all, can miss all the commons debates she likes.

[James Dennis]

Ben, if you'd listened to the BBC and the papers (who'd obviously also swallowed the New Labour press release) you'd assume George Galloway wasn't attending a debate on Crossrail in the Houses of Parliament.

True - because there isn't a debate on Crossrail in the H of P.

What there is, is the comittee stage of the Crossrail Bill which Galloway wouldn't be allowed to attend anyway, and technical motions in the Commons, which renders his appearance pointless.

The next debate will be when the Crossrail Bill reading comes up, at which time Galloway will vote against as he has done on the last two occasions.

As for the other debates you mentioned - the House won't be full on those days (it rarely is) and quite a few MP's won't turn up, although they won't get a kicking for it like Galloway.

And they won't be raising money for charity either - for a modest and little known NGO helping in Palestine, a place which is of great significance to many of Galloway's constituents.

[Sophie Evans]

So where does the cat routine come in?

[Ali Price]

Many people will eat in the Gaza Strip because of his appearance on Big Brother! I love it!

[island monkey]

I think Galloway may have the last laugh. The publicity he has generated is immense. He has raised money for a good cause. Appearing on Big Brother. Why not?