George Galloway

George Galloway is suing the Canadian government for $1.5million.

The legal action alleges defamation, misfeasance of public office and claims general and exemplary damages amounting to $1.5million. The statement of claim was served today (Tuesday) on Immigration, Nationalities and Multiculturalism minister Jason Kenney and his assistant Alykhan Velshi.

The claim centres on allegations Kenney and Velshi made about Galloway, on the record and in inter-departmental communications, when he was banned from Canada in March 2009. Specifically that he was a member of a terrorist organisation and was threat to the national security of Canada. They also claimed that the security services had confirmed this. None of these allegations was true.

While the Westminster government intends to cut incapacity benefit to half a million people. George Galloway has demanded that the new Scottish government defends the disabled rather than being complicit in slashing their living standards.

George Galloway said: ‘What could be more clearly a health issue than whether or not you are fit for work? Yet the Westminster government and Labour before them has taken that decision out of the National Health Service. Instead, people on disability benefits are being dragged before a private company, Atos, which puts them through humiliating tests and which is paid a bonus - allegedly £14,000 - for every person it declares ineligible for the benefit. ‘

"The statement by News International of limited liability on phone hacking appears to be a cynical attempt to protect the company’s chief executive Rebekah Wade’, George Galloway said. ‘Wade delivered the statement on Friday which sought to put an end to the controversy. However by attempting to limit the admission of liability to the two years between 2004 and 2006 - and by so doing effectively sacrificing two senior executives and former editor Andy Coulson - she appears to be trying to exculpate herself from the scandal.

"The Metropolitan police a week past Thursday showed me incontrovertible proof that my phone was hacked five times in one day in April 2003. And there were surely others, before and after.

"Wade was the editor of the News of the World until January 2003. Are we expected to believe - as Wade wants us to believe - that the illegalities began only when Andy Coulson took over from her?

"When was Glenn Mulcaire, who carried out the hackings, first employed by the News of the World? My information is that he worked for the paper prior to Coulson’s watch.

"When my case comes to court I will be citing her and my counsel will be demanding answers about her part in this. In the meantime the Metropolitan police inquiry must question her urgently."

Video funded by Philosophy Football, shot by Consequential Films on the evening of 26 March at the Big Night Out Philosophy Football organised for the TUC. Spoken word electronica pioneers Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, comic Josie Long, Unison's Heather Wakefield, TUC Deputy General-Secretary Frances O'Grady and others contribute their views of the protest and what it means for the anti-cuts movement.

Wednesday 6th April, 7.15pm
The Winter Gardens, People’s Palace, Glasgow Green

Philosophy Football follow a group of campaigners as they travel from Northampton to London to join the March for the Alternative on March 26th.

"The Holyrood Labour party in action is not a pretty sight. If it gains power next month the Cabinet could come to resemble the social committee of a 1960s working men's club.

WANDERING the streets of Glasgow in 2011, grass grows in the potholes and despair grows in the hearts of the poor and the unemployed.

George Galloway statement on the removal of the sit-in at Glasgow University.