A 39-year-old man has been charged with religiously aggravated assault over an attack on MP George Galloway.

The Respect Party MP was taken to hospital after the incident in a London street on Friday.

Neil Masterson is to appear at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court today.

Mr Galloway, who suffered a suspected jaw and rib ­fracture, took to Twitter to thank those who helped him after the alleged assault.

"Most heartfelt thanks to two Moroccan members of the public who came to my rescue," he said, adding: "Thanks to officers of @metpoliceuk, whose rapid response... produced a dramatic arrest, and finally thanks to all the NHS staff at St Mary's Paddington."

However, he railed against opponents who he accused of caring only about certain types of free speech. "What's shocking is the scarcely concealed 'liberal' approval when it happens to someone they don't like," he tweeted.