Panel Recommends Suspending British MP (George Galloway)

[Meeker Morgan]

Source: AP

LONDON (AP) - A House of Commons disciplinary panel on Tuesday called for the suspension of a lawmaker who was accused of concealing his financial dealings with Saddam Hussein's government.

The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee found that George Galloway had concealed the true source of the funds for a charity he set up and recommended that he be suspended for 18 days. Any suspension is subject to a vote in the Commons.

The committee said there was "strong circumstantial evidence that the Oil-for-Food Program was used by the Iraqi government, with Mr. Galloway's connivance, to fund the campaigning activities of the Mariam Appeal. In acting as he did, Mr. Galloway breached the advocacy rule and damaged the reputation of the house."

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Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party for urging British soldiers not to fight in Iraq. He formed his own party, Respect, and won re-election to the Commons in 2005.

Read more: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070717/D8QECA500.html

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Read the whole story to get Galloway's side.

[rocktivity]

1. Accused, but NOT convicted.

If the evidence against Galloway is "strong" enough, put him on trial! They're going to punish him by hook or by crook, aren't they?

:boring:
rocknation

[bemildred]

2. If at first you don't succeed, try try again.

He really is a thorn in their side, is he not? I hear he has a radio show now too.

[Greeby]

3. Don't know why anyone is so bothered

He doesn't turn up to the Commons anyway so who'd notice the difference?

[LeftishBrit]

4. Exactly!

He'd rather be on Celebrity Big Brother, or doing a variety of other things, than his job as an MP.

I agree with him over Iraq; but there are lots (if sadly not enough) of British MPs who have done a much more serious, if lower-profile. job of opposing the war.

[ananda]

7. Galloway publicly stood up to and ridiculed Bush.

I like Galloway!

[LeftishBrit]

8. Yes, but that was just one main occasion ...

and I did like his smackdown of Senator Coleman. sometimes we wish he'd spend more time actually fighting the cause in the British parliament, where, after all, any power that he has really lies.

[TheBaldyMan]

5. bollocks - "strong circumstantial evidence" leading to an 18 day suspension

well a recommendation for suspension

Tony Blair starts an aggressive war of choice - no case to answer

$9 billion goes walkabout in Iraq while under allied occupation - Bremer not accountable

600,000+ dead in Iraq & Afghanistan - no war crimes tribunal convened

I think there is more than strong circumstantial evidence here that whole administrations are getting away with bloody murder.

[Barrett808]

6. Word. n/t