Newspaper still awaits Galloway libel writ over Iraq funds claim
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Nearly two months after denouncing claims that he received funds from Saddam Hussein's regime, George Galloway has yet to issue a writ for libel against The Daily Telegraph over the allegations.
The MP for Glasgow Kelvin, who has been suspended by the Labour Party, insisted yesterday that he had no plans to drop his legal action against the newspaper, which claimed he was paid around £375,000 by Iraq.Mr Galloway's libel lawyers, Davenport Lyons, visited The Daily Telegraph offices to inspect documents last week.
"I am absolutely serious about the libel action," he said last night.
The paper, which is expected to defend its story to the hilt, claimed it had found documents in a bombed-out building in Baghdad that linked Mr Galloway financially to Saddam Hussein's regime.
The MP is also suing the Christian Science Monitor over claims that he received millions of dollars from Iraq. Mr Galloway said yesterday that the documents used by the Boston-based journal were forgeries. He has asked his lawyers to issue writs against the journal if necessary.
Mr Galloway has vigorously denied receiving any money from Baghdad. Yesterday, the MP's lawyers confirmed his intention to proceed with the libel case, and said they had instructed Richard Rampton QC, and Heather Rogers, a barrister.
"We have now seen the documents which have been reported in the press, and counsel has papers to draft an appropriate claim," said Kevin Bays, a partner at Davenport Lyons. "He is going ahead and will proceed with legal action."
The Labour Party has fought off attempts by union members, MPs and members of its executive to get it to drop the suspension of Mr Galloway, who has been a party member for 35 years.
An official inquiry by the Labour executive into Mr Galloway's conduct could lead to his being thrown out of the party and forced to fight the next election as an independent. The inquiry was provoked by Mr Galloway's comments on Abu Dhabi television, in which he accused Tony Blair and President Bush of being "wolves" for attacking Iraq, and urged British soldiers to refuse to obey "illegal" orders.
The investigation is being conducted by Labour's deputy general secretary, Chris Lennie, and is expected to be completed by early autumn.