A Tory minister has said George Galloway’s re-election as an MP is “not a good day for the country” and vowed to blank him is he sees him in parliament.
Greg Hands said the new MP for Rochdale was “somebody who has an extremist view of the world and is not somebody that I engage with”.
His comments came a day after Galloway, leader of the Workers Party of Britain, was sworn in as an MP for the fourth time following his stunning by-election victory last week.
Asked for his views on the veteran firebrand’s return on Sky News this morning, trade minister Hands said: “I think it’s not a good day for the country, it’s not a good day for anybody.
“I’ve been an MP now for 19 years and I’ve seen George Galloway now represent three different constituencies. Each time he’s let down those constituents and not been re-elected.”
Presenter Kay Burley asked him: “If you saw George Galloway in the tea rooms or in the corridor, what would you say to him?”
Hands replied: “Well I’m not on speaking terms with George Galloway. I never have been. We were MPs twice together and I think he’s somebody who has an extremist view of the world and is not somebody that I engage with.”
Speaking ahead of his return to parliament yesterday, Galloway made clear that he was not coming back to make friends.
He said: “I’ve always loved the building - the people in it not quite so much.”