Galloway Rape Remark: Respect Candidate Quits
George Galloway's rape comments are continuing to reverberate - this time with the resignation of a candidate from his own party.
Tuesday 4 September 2012 17:58, UK
Respect candidate Kate Hudson has quit over George Galloway's claim that a rape allegation against WikiLeaks campaigner Julian Assange amounted to no more than "bad sexual etiquette".
She said her conscience would not allow her to stand in the upcoming Manchester Central by-election for a party whose only MP has made "unacceptable and unretracted statements" about rape.
The Bradford West MP has , which have also been heavily criticised by his own party's leader Salma Yaqoob.
He provoked criticism by declaring in a that even if the claims against Mr Assange were true, they did not constitute rape.
He condemned what he described as Mr Assange's "sexual behaviour" as "disgusting" but suggested his actions may just have been "bad manners".
After coming under fire, Mr Galloway issued a statement to clarify his view, but still insisted the claims against Mr Assange would not have led to prosecution in Britain.
Announcing her decision to quit, Ms Hudson wrote in her blog: "Unfortunately George Galloway’s subsequent clarification of his remarks was totally inadequate.
"To continue to represent the Respect Party in this context does not accord with my political principles, which include the continuing struggle for justice and respect for women, as well as fighting against austerity, war and racism.
"I will continue to work within the Respect Party to ensure that our values and principles with regard to women’s rights match up to the Party’s - and George Galloway’s - outstanding record in these other areas."
Mr Galloway was unavailable for comment.
Mr Assange, who is currently holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, is accused of sexually assaulting two women in Sweden in 2010, but is resisting extradition there for questioning.
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