George Galloway, accompanied by his wife, was detained by Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism officers upon their arrival at Gatwick Airport from a journey that originated in Moscow. The police confirmed that the couple, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s, were stopped under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 but were not arrested and were eventually allowed to continue their travels.
The Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act empowers authorities to question and detain individuals at UK entry points to ascertain any potential involvement in “hostile activity.” Following his defeat in the 2024 election, Galloway expressed intentions to contest a seat in the Scottish Parliament representing Glasgow Southside.
The Workers Party of Britain, under Galloway’s leadership, criticized the detention as politically motivated intimidation. Meanwhile, the Mirror has introduced a dedicated US Politics WhatsApp community for readers interested in receiving exclusive news updates directly to their phones. To join, users must have WhatsApp installed and follow a provided link to access the group.
The party expressed concern over the lack of information regarding Galloway and his wife’s well-being, rights, charges, or alleged offenses, suggesting that the incident was driven by political motives. They called on supporters to demand the immediate release of their leaders.
For further political updates, readers can follow the Mirror Politics account on Bluesky and join the Politics WhatsApp group for breaking news and exclusive offers. Additionally, signing up for the Mirror’s Politics newsletter ensures receiving top exclusives and opinions via email. Viewers can also enjoy the new YouTube series ‘Party Games,’ where MPs engage in entertaining activities hosted by Mirror’s Sophie Huskisson.