Galloway: Allegations were a “dagger” through my heart
George Galloway has denied allegations he received money from deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The Glasgow Kelvin MP told the High Court the allegations by the Daily Telegraph were “a dagger, a sword, right through my political heart”.
The 50-year old, expelled from the Labour Party over comments made against the Government’s support of the US-led war in Iraq, began libel action against the paper on Monday.
The Telegraph claimed in April 2003 that Mr Galloway received £375,000 in oil money from Mr Hussein’s regime. A reporter found documents referring to Mr Galloway in the remains of the Iraqi foreign ministry in Baghdad.
Mr Galloway claimed the documents were fake.
Opening the case, Mr Galloway’s barrister Richard Rampton QC told the court his client was a “longstanding opponent of tyranny and oppression”.
He said his reputation was now in tatters and insists The Telegraph acted irresponsibly in publishing the allegations “in the manner that they did”.
He added that “Mr Galloway never had a penny of Saddam Hussein’s money for himself”.
Acting for the Telegraph, James Price QC said the paper believed the documents were genuine and should be investigated.
The case is expected to last five days.
