You're not welcome, Canada tells Galloway

Friday, 20 March 2009 6:00 PM

By Laura Miller

Respect MP George Galloway will be turned away at the border if he tries to enter Canada because of his outspoken views risk national security.

Mr Galloway, who was due to visit Toronto to deliver his speech Resisting War from Gaza to Kandahar on 30th March, will use "all means at our disposal" to fight the ban, said a spokesperson.

Reports claim the Canadian authorities decided that, given his strong anti-war position, a visit from the Bethnal Green and Bow MP would be too much of a security risk while Canadian troops are still fighting in Afghanistan.

The spokesman said Galloway's camp was still waiting for "formal contact" from the Canadian authorities to clarify the situation, but promised to challenge the current decision.

"We will resist it vigorously by all means at our disposal because this is refusing access to an elected politician on the grounds of their views," he said.

The Department of Citizenship and Immigration in Canada confirmed the Respect MP is not welcome in the country.

A spokesman said the decision had been taken by border security officials "based on a number of factors" in line with immigration laws and to protect national security.

Mr Galloway became the face of the anti-war Respect party after being ejected from the Labour party in 2003 over his opposition to the Iraq war, following comments which Labour chairman Ian McCartney said "incited foreign forces to rise up against British troops".

At Cairo airport in 2006 he was held "on grounds of national security" after travelling to Egypt to attend a "mock trial" of then prime minister Tony Blair and then US president George Bush.

Tags:
• foreign policy
,
• party politics
,
• respect