Biggs backtracks over 'support' for Galloway

30 April 2008

Livingstone and Galloway at Sunday's Peace rally

By Ted Jeory

LONDON Assembly member John Biggs has attempted to clarify his comments about his perceived backing for George Galloway in the City Hall elections.

His comments came as Labour's Ken Livingstone offered a 'loving arm' to his old pal Galloway at last Sunday's Peace rally in Whitechapel.

Biggs, who is Labour's City & East candidate in tomorrow's polls for the Assembly, told the East London Advertiser last Friday that he would prefer people to back Galloway's campaign for election to the Assembly than the Tories.

He said at Brick Lane Jamme Masjit mosque: "I'd much rather people vote for George Galloway than the Tories. I didn't think I'd ever say that."

Those comments have prompted criticism from within his own party because he appeared to calling for people to vote Respect and not Labour.

Daily Mail and Spectator columnist Melanie Phillips also highlighted the quotes on her blog site.

But Biggs told the Advertiser today (Thurs): "I certainly said he is better than the Tories, but that doesn't mean I want people to support him.

"The only votes I want to see are for Labour, unless they are second choice votes for Ken by those backing other mayoral candidates as their first choice.

"If Galloway was elected, however, he would be an insufferable prima donna, but his vote would certainly be more useful to Ken than a Conservative vote.

"It's a sort of levels of hell answer."

Meanwhile, Ken Livingstone also tried to publicly qualify his support for Galloway's campaign.

Last Friday, the Labour candidate for Mayor said the Respect MP for Bethnal Green & Bow would be better than some of the "nonentities" currently sitting on the London Assembly and that he could work with him in a 'broad coalition' of the left.

And at Sunday's small rally in Altab Ali Park in Whitechapel, Livingstone said it would be "wonderful" if George was elected to keep out the BNP.

When the Advertiser later asked him if that meant he was officially endorsing Galloway for election, he said: "I want him on to keep the BNP out."

He was then asked if that constituted unconditional support for the MP.

He replied: "I said what I said." The pair then posed arm in arm for photographers.

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See Friday's original report:

Ken gives surprise hope to Galloway's Assembly bid