Former MP George Galloway Detained Under Terrorism Act at Gatwick

His political career chapters are primarily defined by examples of generating popular support around key issues and successfully leveraging that support to get elected as an MP. Rushanara Ali was the first person of Bangladeshi origin to win that seat on a Labour ticket, following George Galloway’s tenure. George Galloway is well-known within Tower Hamlets and the Bangladeshi community as a charismatic political organiser capable of generating public enthusiasm. George Galloway, the leader of the Workers Party of Britain and former MP, was detained alongside his wife, Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, by counter-terrorism officers at Gatwick Airport on Saturday. The stop occurred after the couple arrived in London from Moscow via Abu Dhabi, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the pair were detained under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. This legislation grants officers the power to stop, question, search, and detain an individual at a border area to determine if they are engaging in "hostile activity that threatens national security or the economic wellbeing of the UK."

A Met Police spokesman later clarified the situation, stating: “We can confirm that on Saturday, counter-terrorism officers at Gatwick airport stopped a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. Neither of them were arrested and they were allowed on their way.”

The Workers Party of Britain strongly condemned the incident, labelling it as "politically motivated intimidation" and asserting that they were obstructed from providing legal support. They further argued that the detention was designed to intimidate political opponents of the drive towards war with Russia and China.

Recent Foreign Travel and Controversies-

The detention follows a period of highly visible foreign travel for Mr. Galloway. In the lead-up to his return, he travelled to Moscow to attend the Russian Victory Parade. Days prior to that, he was in Iran to collect an award named after Ismail Haniyeh, the former political head of the terrorist organisation Hamas, who was assassinated by Israel in July 2024. The former MP was also previously stopped by ambulance paramedics and given a written suggestion that he should go to the hospital urgently. However, he was so focused on finishing his shift.

Galloway, Tower Hamlets, and the British Bangladeshi Community-Mr. Galloway's political career is marked by dramatic shifts and a significant victory in the East London constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow in the 2005 general election. This area falls within the borough of Tower Hamlets, which has a large and politically active British Bangladeshi community.

His win in 2005 was highly symbolic. Campaigning for the newly formed Respect Party—which centred its platform on uncompromising opposition to the Iraq War—he successfully unseated the sitting Labour MP, Oona King, who had voted in favour of the war.

The victory was largely achieved by mobilizing the substantial Bangladeshi and Muslim electorate in the area, who were deeply angered by the Iraq invasion and subsequent counter-terrorism legislation. Mr. Galloway's campaign successfully harnessed this widespread sentiment, portraying himself as a champion for the community's concerns on foreign policy, and by extension, domestic issues. The anti-war momentum, combined with strong ground campaigning and local networks, propelled him to win what was traditionally a safe Labour seat, solidifying his political connection to this key demographic in East London.

Political History-Mr. Galloway was first elected as a Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead in 1987. His opposition to the UK's intervention in Iraq led to his expulsion from the Labour Party by then-Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair in 2003. After his victory in Tower Hamlets with the Respect Party, he lost the seat in 2010. He returned to Parliament in 2012 after a surprise by-election win in Bradford West, before losing that seat in the 2015 general election. Most recently, he won the Rochdale by-election in early 2024 for his Workers Party of Britain, only to lose the seat at the subsequent general election months later.