A nod of respect
Political firebrand Galloway congratulates the Reformer
Former Labour and Respect MP George Galloway has congratulated the Rutherglen Reformer for last week’s open letter to Margaret Ferrier in which we demanded her resignation.
Describing it as “magnificently bombastic,” Mr Galloway said the letter to Ferrier – whom he accused of “betraying the constituency” – “really captured what the feeling is”.
Speaking to the Reformer on Thursday from his home in the Borders, he said: “The paper has travelled far and wide this week with your open letter. It was a work of art. That is what a local paper should be.”
It comes as Galloway pledged to stand as a candidate in the event of a by-election in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, should other pro-union parties ignore his call to field just one candidate in a bid to topple the SNP.
He wants a single candidate from either Labour, the Tories or Liberal Democrats to stand if any by-election is called.
When asked how much appetite he had sensed for a single candidate challenge to what he described as “a ragged SNP”, Mr Galloway – who wants an end to the dominance of the constitutional issue in Scottish politics – responded: “None.”
With little prospect of pro-union parties complying with his request, it seems highly likely that the left-wing firebrand will stake a claim for the seat should a by-election be announced.
Asked what constituents could expect from the Alliance for Unity party he heads up, Mr Galloway said: “I was almost 30 years in Parliament. I won six elections, two of them as an independent, which has not been done for 100 years. I’d bring a better class of parliamentary representation than they would get elsewhere.
“They know I have a big voice that will be heard. Nobody in this country, and beyond this country, will not know about this constituency if I am elected to represent it.
“I will carry the needs and demands of the constituents right into the heart of Westminster. I will play the role of the chief hammer over the SNP, as separatism is a real curse.”
Over Ferrier’s blatant breach of coronavirus restrictions and her weekend protestations over retaining her job, Mr Galloway blasted: “This woman is either too stupid or too wicked to be the member of parliament. Either way she has to go.
“She has portrayed herself as a kind of village idiot, being played by the SNP, statements written for her, her every move dictated by strings being pulled by Mr
Murrell at SNP HQ. Maybe so.
“But she was fully in control of her own actions prior to being found out.
“Showing symptoms of the coronavirus and in defiance not only of all instructions in such circumstances but of adult common sense, she decided to roam around like a weapon of mass destruction, attending Mass at St Mungo’s, where I used to worship when I represented Townhead, and even reading a lesson to pensioners, going to the seaside, going to a beauty parlour, on and on it goes.
“And then, once certified positive with this deadly disease, she spreads it all over parliament, which will surely now see her suspended.
“We have to bring this farce, this potential tragedy to a close.”
Claiming Ferrier has shown “absolute contempt for the public outrage she has engendered,” Mr Galloway added: “Personna non grata except in her own house. But staying on as a £82,000 a year MP? Not if I can help it.
“Resign, resign, resign.”