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Hopes grow for Galloway media ban
8 May 2005
Hopes are growing that George Galloway, the new and sole Respect MP, will soon refuse to talk to any media outlet. Already this week he has walked out of interviews with ITN and the BBC's Jeremy Paxman, blacklisting them both - "in perpetuity" according to his campaign manager.
During the ITN interview, a clip was shown of him meeting failed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein™, whom he told "Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability" - a clear and strong criticism of the then Iraqi president's human rights record, which Galloway had long opposed.
Following questions from a member of public in Glasgow, where he had formerly been an MP, Galloway accused the presenters of being "liars". Saying the interview was a "set-up" and the programme a "waste of time", he tore off his microphone and left the studio.
On election night he also walked out of an interview with Paxman, after being asked whether he was proud of defeating one of the few black women MPs in Parliament.
Professor Douglas Ramsbottom, an expert on media and Mongolian studies from Bootle University, told DeadBrain that television studios could soon be no-go areas for Galloway. "He's slowly working his way through the channels," he said. "With a bit of luck within a few weeks he won't talk to anybody and we'll never have to hear from him again."
"Some of the questioning was unfair," he added, "but if it stops Galloway appearing on television then I'm all for it."
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