Labour has unleashed a withering attack on George Galloway as the battle escalated in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
Andy Burnham’s party tore into the leader of the Workers Party of Britain, highlighting that he is in South Africa, not Britain, as he seeks to become MP for the north London seat.
Liam Conlon MP, Labour's political lead for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election campaign, told The Standard: “George Galloway is using this by-election to serve his own interests.
“He has a long-track record of divisive campaigns and rhetoric, yet no record of delivering for Camden. He isn’t even in the country.”
Beckenham and Penge MP Mr Conlon added: “People deserve much better than anyone with those credentials.”
He stressed that Labour’s candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali had “shown her commitment to Camden over decades, from community activism to her time as a school governor, and now as Leader of Camden Council”.
Earlier, Mr Galloway’s chances of having a major impact on the by-election were dismissed by a senior Green parliamentarian.
Baroness Jenny Jones criticised him as a “glory seeker” who “just wants attention”.
The former London Assembly member added: “He will confuse the voting a bit - but I think not enough to make a huge difference.”
Mr Galloway’s decision to enter the contest is a blow to Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is standing in the seat, as it could split the Left-leaning, anti-Labour vote.
But former Labour and ex-Respect MP Mr Galloway has been hit with a backlash over his move from within his party by the resignation of its deputy leader Chris Williamson.
Responding to Baroness Jones’ criticism, a spokesman for the Workers Party of Britain (WPB) said: “The Baroness is hardly qualified to talk on Westminster voting, sitting in the Lords as an unelected life peer having repeatedly failed to get elected as an MP herself.”
When the WPB announced Mr Galloway would be the party’s candidate in Holborn, it hit out at Labour and the Greens as it offered voters what it called “a genuine socialist alternative”.
It said: “At a time when millions are struggling to heat their homes, pay their rent and provide for their families, we believe politics must focus on bread-and-butter issues and the economic wellbeing of ordinary people.
“Greens and Labour support sending endless £billions to Ukraine.”
Mr Galloway, 72, is currently on a speaking tour in South Africa and has events scheduled until October 4, just four days before voters are set to go to the polls in Camden.
Shortly before he threw his hat into the ring for the north London by-election, he signalled that he might be returning to the city to fight the contest.
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WPB campaigners have been out canvassing in the north London by-election, triggered by Sir Keir Starmer quitting as the local MP.
But it was not clear if Mr Galloway, who has represented five seats in Parliament including Bethnal Green and Bow, will turn up in the capital for the contest.
On Camden Council’s list of candidates for the by-election, Mr Galloway’s address has been put down as one in the Dumfries & Galloway constituency in Scotland.
However, he is believed to have been living in “self-imposed exile” in Moscow for the last year after he and his wife Putri Gayatri Pertiwi were detained by counter-terrorism police at Gatwick Airport in September 2025.
They are thought to have been returning to the UK from Moscow via Abu Dhabi.
Neither of them were arrested and police said they were "allowed on their way".
The WPB said Mr Galloway is awaiting confirmation from the Home Office or police that he is “free to carry on with political campaigning” before he fights the by-election on the ground where Labour’s candidate Ms Abdi-Wali is favourite to win.
A WPB spokesman said: “George's home address since moving out of London with his family has been in Scotland.
“He was detained along with his wife and party chairwoman Gayatri unjustly by counter terrorism officers at Gatwick airport for nine hours in total, and subsequently released.
“This also happened in 2004. In 2004 the Head of Special Branch (Ports) issued a public apology and confirmed he was free to carry on with political campaigning.
“We are awaiting a similar message from the police or Home Office so that he can hit the ground in Holborn & St Pancras.”
