Galloway to make fresh bid to get back into Parliament

Former MP George Galloway is expected to launch a fresh bid to get back into Parliament today.

Mr Galloway is due to make an announcement about whether he will stand in the Bradford West by-election.

The former Glasgow Labour MP returned to the Commons in 2005 when he won the Bethnal Green seat for his Respect party.

But he failed to get elected when he stood in Poplar and Limehouse in the 2010 general election.

Mr Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 over comments he made about the war in Iraq.

But his profile continued to grow as he appeared regularly on TV, famously making an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006.

He is expected to make an announcement about the Bradford West by-election in the West Yorkshire town later today.

Mr Galloway posted on Facebook that he is visiting Bradford "for consultations about standing for parliament in the forthcoming by-election".

He added: "If I stand we will need money and men and women to rally the voters behind the banner of justice, equality and peace.

"It may be that this is the moment when we can all be together, to stop the wars abroad and the ruthless attrition being conducted against our own people at home. Watch this space. GG."

Last week, Mr Galloway Tweeted: "A by-election for the Parliamentary vacancy in Bradford West. Hmmm. Now THAT'S interesting ..."

It is not clear whether Mr Galloway would stand for Respect or as an independent.

No date has yet been fixed for the Bradford West poll.

The by-election has been triggered because Labour backbencher Marsha Singh announced last week he is to step down as an MP.

The MP said his resignation was on medical advice owing to "serious health problems".

Mr Singh has represented Bradford West, a Labour stronghold, since 1997.

PA