George Galloway pays libel damages to former aide over 'dirty tricks campaign' claims

The former MP withdrew his accusations

George Galloway withdrew his allegations against his former aide and agreed to pay undisclosed damages (Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)

George Galloway has agreed to pay undisclosed damages to a former aide over claims she conspired to run a "dirty tricks campaign" against him.

The former MP withdrew his allegations against Aisha Ali-Khan and agreed to pay damages along with legal costs.

Ms Ali-Khan brought libel proceedings in London's High Court after the Respect Party leader published a statement on his website in October 2012.

Aisha Ali-Khan brought libel proceedings against Mr Galloway after he published a statement on his website in October 2012 (PA)

Her solicitor, Mark Lewis, told Mr Justice Warby it stated a very senior officer in SO15 (Counter Terrorism Command) had been feeding disinformation aimed at damaging him to a national newspaper and to others.

He also said the officer had been aided by a member of staff in Bradford who had been suspended.

Mr Lewis said on Monday Mr Galloway stated this conduct involved them using the officer's Metropolitan Police email account as well as creating two false email addresses to spread deceit.

"Four days later, the defendant's spokesman substantially repeated the claims to the Mail on Sunday which published an article stating that the claimant and the officer had conspired to run a dirty tricks campaign against the defendant and the Respect Party; that the claimant had been used as a police agent; and that the claimant had slept with the officer at the defendant's home."

Mr Lewis said Ms Ali-Khan had not been feeding disinformation or deceit to national newspapers or acting as a police agent and had not slept with the officer - whom she had married in a sharia law ceremony - at Mr Galloway's home.

Mr Galloway's counsel, Adam Speker, said he accepted the article - and interviews given by individuals for whom he bore responsibility in relation to Ms Ali-Khan - contained defamatory accusations, for which he apologised.

"He now withdraws these allegations. He has made a payment of damages for his defamatory comments and agreed to pay legal costs."

Additional reporting by Press Association