Firebrand politician George Galloway was detained under the Terrorism Act at Gatwick Airport on Saturday after returning from Russia, sparking accusations of “politically motivated intimidation” from his party.
The Workers Party of Britain, which Galloway leads, confirmed that the 71 year old former MP and his wife, Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, were stopped by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command after landing at Gatwick via Abu Dhabi.
Police later confirmed a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s had been temporarily detained under the legislation but allowed to continue their journey. No charges have been announced.
The Workers Party posted on X that their leader had been targeted and claimed the action amounted to “politically motivated intimidation”, saying repeated calls for updates on his welfare and rights had gone unanswered. They urged supporters to demand his “immediate release”.
Galloway, who regained a parliamentary seat for the Workers Party in the Rochdale by-election last year before stepping down in May 2024, has long courted controversy. He was previously elected for both Labour and Respect, and his career has included meetings with Saddam Hussein, vocal pro-Palestinian campaigning, and criticism from MPs who accused him of antisemitism and sexism.
The former MP attracted renewed attention earlier this year when he attended Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day parade in Moscow, describing it as “moving, emotional, inspiring, humbling”. He also accepted an award in Iran named after a Hamas leader.
Controversy over his campaign funding surfaced last year when it emerged that Andrew Tate’s brother Tristan had donated £5,000 towards his Rochdale by-election fight.
Galloway, also remembered by many for his 2006 Celebrity Big Brother appearance in which he mimed being a cat, has not yet commented publicly on his detention.
The Metropolitan Police said it would not comment further while checks under the Terrorism Act were ongoing.
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