Galloway sacked by magazine over rape comments

UK Political Editor

Thursday 23 August 2012

THE fallout from George Galloway's comments about the sex allegations facing Wikileaks founder Julian Assange intensified last night when the MP was sacked as a columnist for Holyrood magazine.

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MICHAEL SETTLE UK POLITICAL EDITOR

A war of words also broke out between the Bradford West MP and Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, who branded his remarks outrageous and misogynist, saying they "provided cover for offenders".

The Scottish politician sparked controversy when he argued that an allegation against Mr Assange – that he had sex with a woman while she was asleep – was not rape but just "bad sexual etiquette".

He later clarified his comments, saying: "No never means yes and non-consensual sex is rape," but continued to maintain that what allegedly took place in the Assange case was "not rape as most people understand it". Mandy Rhodes, editor of Holyrood Magazine, said she was "gobsmacked" by the remarks and announced Mr Galloway was no longer a columnist.She said: "There is no excuse, ever, for sex without consent and, regardless of the details of the Assange case, Galloway's comments and inappropriate language about rape per se are alarming." "I had hoped he might have taken the last 24 hours to reflect on his judgment and perhaps make some kind of public apology but that has not been apparent; far from it. So, it is with some very genuine regret that I have asked him to no longer write his column for the magazine."Ms Harman, who is due to attend events at the Edinburgh festivals this week, said Mr Galloway's comments were unforgiveable. She said: "This is an allegation the Swedes are taking seriously, an allegation that needs to be tested in the criminal justice system, and for George Galloway to offer his view it is not an offence is just in the misogynist tradition of men who write off women's complaints. So it's very depressing. It's outrageous really, outrageous."She insisted that despite the alleged assaults taking place in Sweden, the case would have an impact on women in Britain who may be held back from reporting rape for fear of being accused of making a false allegation.In response, Mr Galloway hit back last night, telling The Herald: "Being lectured by Harriet Harman is like being told to sit up straight by Quasimodo."He has insisted there was "no evidence of rape" in the Assange case, which he described as a set-up by the Swedish authorities.Mr Assange fears that if he is extradited to Sweden, he will then be transported to America to face charges over his whistle-blowing website.

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Galloway sacked by magazine over rape comments

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