Heart of Bitterness

George Galloway banned from entering Canada?

According to the U.K. version of the Sun (and if it is in the Sun, it must be true), U.K. Respect MP and former Celebrity Big Brother contestant "Gorgeous" George Galloway will not be allowed into Canada:

Border security chiefs have declared the Respect MP "inadmissable" because of his views on Afghanistan and the presence of Canadian troops there.

Mr Galloway is due to make a speech in Toronto on March 30, following a US lecture tour, but will be turned away if he tries to enter Canada.

The Canadian High Commission in London was last night contacting the MP’s office to inform him of the decision.

Canadian rules say he will be allowed in only if he has a special permit from immigration minister Jason Kenney.

But Mr Kenney’s spokesman said: “George Galloway is not getting a permit — end of story.

He defends the very terrorists trying to kill Canadian forces in Afghanistan.

In response, Galloway, (who in the past has explicitly not called for the assassination of Tony Blair) issued this statement:

"This decision, gazetted in Rupert Murdoch’s Sun, is a very sad day for the Canada we have known and loved - a bastion of the freedoms that supporters of the occupation of Afghanistan claim to be defending.

"This has further vindicated the anti-war movement’s contention that unjust wars abroad will end up consuming the very liberties that make us who we are.

"This may be a rather desperate election ploy by a conservative government reaching the end of line, or by a minister who has not cottoned on to the fact that the George Bush era is over.

"All right thinking Canadians, whether they agree with me over the wisdom of sending troops to Afghanistan or not, will oppose this outrageous decision.

"On a personal note - for a Scotsman to be barred from Canada is like being told to stay away from the family home.

"This is not something I’m prepared to accept."