Galloway claims he is the 'Robin Hood' of British politics

Newly-elected MP George Galloway has claimed he is the “Robin Hood” of British politics.

Mr Galloway, who was victorious in the Bradford West by-election last month, compared himself to the folklore outlaw and said he was the “most inquired-into individual in British politics”.

In an interview with The Big Issue street newspaper, he said: “If I was a bigamist, I'd be under arrest. If I was a tax dodger, I'd be under arrest.

“I'm the most inquired-into individual in British politics. By a country mile.

“If I did things wrong, be sure I'd be already in big trouble.

“We have a prevailing orthodoxy: there's a few inches of political life in which it's acceptable to have a different view but if you challenge the fundamentals of policy, you're an outlaw. You're Robin Hood.”

George Galloway scored a dramatic win in the Bradford West by-election, securing a 10,000-plus majority in what he called a “massive rejection” of mainstream parties.

Respect swept from fifth place at the 2010 general election to a commanding victory for the ex-Labour anti-war campaigner against his former party on a swing of 36.59%.

Mr Galloway won 18,341 votes to the 8,201 for Labour candidate Imran Hussain.

He described it as “the most sensational result in British by-election history bar none”.

Mr Galloway, 57, originally from Dundee, earned the nickname “Gorgeous George” after admitting to having sexual intercourse with women in Greece, while he was in Mykonos for a conference in 1987.

He achieved notoriety for his conduct in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2006, when he pretended to purr like a cat and lick cream from actress Rula Lenska's hands on the show.

He now lives with his fourth wife, 27-year-old Dutch/Indonesian anthropologist Putri Pertiwi.

When asked to explain the “effect” he has on women, Mr Galloway said: “I'm the artist formerly known as Gorgeous George. I prefer the company of women. Because I don't drink, I don't swear, I'm not crude, sometimes male company turns me off. And from an early age I was the person who drove everybody home and I always saved the prettiest girl to drop off last.”

Mr Galloway also told The Big Issue “you can have a whale of a time” without drink and drugs.

He said: “Music, making love, children, it's all you need, really. I love children very much and hope to have more. Your own children and grandchildren literally piling on top of you, on the sofa, is as good as it gets. It's far more fun than getting tanked down the old Bull 'n' Bush.”

The full interview is available in this week's edition of The Big Issue, on sale today.

PA