Following his embarrassing election defeat to Labour’s Naz Shah in Bradford West, former Labour MP George Galloway has announced his candidacy in the 2016 Mayor of London race.
The Respect Party leader recently began legal proceedings over the Bradford West result, where his 10,000 majority turned into an 11,000 majority for Labour. Given his new interest, it is unclear whether he will be pursuing the case. During the election, Galloway caused an uproar when accused his Labour opponent Naz Shah of lying about her forced marriage and subsequent rape at the age of 15.
Galloway revealed his intentions on Twitter, posting a picture of him and his son:
I'm standing for Mayor of London 2016. If you can help in any way, write to me at [email protected] pic.twitter.com/UDX0KMZ2VO
— George Galloway MP (@georgegalloway) May 28, 2015
Between 2005 and 2010, Galloway was MP for the East London seat of Bethnal Green and Bow. For the 2010 election, he ran in Poplar and Limehouse, but lost to Labour’s Jim Fitzpatrick. Galloway has kept ties in the area, and remains a strong supporter of disgraced former Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
Galloway was thrown out of the Labour Party in 2003.
There are eight people hoping to be Labour’s candidate for London Mayor.
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