Galloway to take on King
George Galloway has vowed to defeat "Blair Babe" Labour MP Oona King at the next general election over her support for the war on Iraq.
But Ms King told the Evening Standard she was undaunted by the challenge and predicted she would finish his political career. Mr Galloway described Ms King as a "parliamentary poodle" for her support for the decision to go to war on Iraq.
With a large Asian electorate, the seat is vulnerable to anti-war protests from both Bengali voters and middle-class whites who normally support Labour.
"Gorgeous George" made his statement hours after he won ?150,000 in damages over a Daily Telegraph article claiming he had been in the pay of Saddam Hussein.
Mr Galloway, who co-founded Respect after being expelled from the Labour Party last year, has to be formally nominated as the party's candidate. He believes he has a good chance of overturning Ms King's 10,057 majority.
Ms King said that she did not fear a challenge from the man his critics dubbed "the MP for Baghdad Central".
"I'm delighted I have been given the chance to finish him off and believe me, I will," she said. "I know many people around the country will be grateful, not least his constituents in Scotland whom he has shamelessly abandoned."
Mr Galloway was scathing about Ms King's failure to represent her constituents over the war. Many Asian and white Labour voters were appalled by her decision to back Tony Blair.
"Carrying the banner of Respect - which last June came first in Tower Hamlets' European and Greater London elections - I will seek to defeat the archetypal 'Blair Babe', Dr Oona King," said Mr Galloway.
"So 'on-message' was she that not withstanding an electorate containing probably the greatest concentration of anti-war voters in the country she voted, spoke and speaks still in favour of a war which surely has few friends left.
"In York Hall, Bethnal Green, many a fierce battle has been fought in the ring. This will be a heavyweight contest. And the gloves are off from today."
A Labour source said the party's support in Bethnal Green and Bow had slumped below 30 per cent. Insiders believe that even if Respect does not win, it could take enough votes to hand the seat to the Tories.
Labour has lost two seats on Tower Hamlets council at byelections this year, one to Respect and one to the Tories.
Both the Tories and Lib-Dems have selected parliamentary candidates from the Bangladeshi Muslim community, which makes up almost half the electorate.
The seat, in the heart of the East End, has seen big changes in recent years. The Bangladeshi population, centred on Brick Lane, has expanded while gentrification in Wapping and Bow has brought in middle-class voters.
Mr Galloway also said that he was certain the Daily Telegraph's documents alleging payments from Saddam were forged. He promised to raise their authenticity in the House of Commons, raising the prospect he will use parliamentary privilege to make his own accusations about their origin.
