Rochdale MP George Galloway clashed with TV host Susanna Reid in a fiery interview on Good Morning Britain today.
Mr Galloway - elected in Rochdale at a by-election after the death of Labour's Tony Lloyd - was quizzed over his relationship with the Labour Party and what Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said about him.
In a speech outside Downing Street on March 1, the PM said the veteran politician's election was 'beyond alarming'.
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Referencing the attack by Hamas against Israel last year, Mr Sunak said: "It's beyond alarming that last night, the Rochdale by-election returned a candidate that dismisses the horror of what happened on October 7, who glorifies Hezbollah and is endorsed by Nick Griffin, the racist former leader of the BNP."
He went on to call the by-election in Rochdale 'one of the most divisive in recent years'.
Mr Galloway took umbrage at Ms Reid's questioning - telling her: "I'm not on trial." The Workers Party founder was shown the infamous clip of Mr Sunak's reaction to his election. Ms Reid asked him: "What about what he says is wrong?"
"Well I think I dealt with at the time and I think he's probably a little embarrassed about the melodrama, bringing out steps to stand on in Downing Street," Mr Galloway responded. He referenced 'false statements'.
But Ms Reid, reports The Express, continued to press him on it, leading him to bite back: "I'm sorry, I'm not here on trial. I was elected in a landslide," he said.
"You're here for an interview George Galloway. No one is putting you on trial," Ms Reid shot back. "This is a television studio and you represent a political party. And you just complained about the about the question I asked you saying that you're on trial. This is an interview."
Mr Galloway said he 'got more votes than all the other parties put together'. He said: "I don't dismiss the horror of what happened on October 7, it's completely baseless. I don't glorify Hezbollah and I wasn't endorsed by Nick Griffin."
Viewers were astonished by the confrontation and took to X, formerly known as Twitter to express their thoughts.
@RumouredRebecca said:"God, what a patronising, arrogant bully. Fair play to Susanna for handling this a******* like a pro #gmb." @RyanJesy wrote: "George Galloway continuing to be an absolute EMBARRASSMENT on #GMB @GMB." @Rise_and_grind7 opined: "Thought George could handle himself , he’s not doing too well here #gmb," with a laughing emoji.
@probesandjelly chimed in: "George Galloway is cringe. Comes across as having a HUGE chip on his shoulder #GMB."
However, he did have some support. @Norfolk_Kez contributed: "I mean as much as George Galloway is a tool it isn't half entertaining watching Susannah and mainly Richard getting tied up in knots by him. Richard looks like he’s going to burst a blood vessel! #GMB."
Mr Galloway went on to say his party wanted to replace Labour.
"We want to replace the Labour Party," he said. "We think that today's Labour Party is a parody of what a Labour Party should be. We think that Labour voters deserve better, so we will be standing as, if you like, real Labour."
He said his party was the 'embodiment' of Tony Benn's vision of Labour. Mr Galloway, said presenter Richard Madeley, was 'chucked out of Labour' and asked the MP whether there was any resentment.
Mr Galloway said: "No, Tony Blair threw me out of the Labour Party over the Iraq war. I have been proven absolutely right over that, and he absolutely wrong. I feel I have absolutely nothing to prove over Labour. I have beaten them."
