Galloway faces disciplinary panel

George Galloway welcomed by supporters before the inquiry

Suspended MP George Galloway has branded Labour's disciplinary case against him "degrading" as he left the first day of the hearing.

Mr Galloway, who was suspended by Labour in May over his controversial comments about the Iraq war, said so far the hearing had heard only from Labour's only witness.

Mr Galloway faces five charges relating to a television interview in which he accused Mr Blair and George Bush of acting "like wolves" by invading Iraq.

Leaving the National Constitutional Committee on Wednesday evening, the Glasgow Kelvin MP said he would present his own case when the hearing resumed on Thursday.

He said: "While I have no complaint about the conduct of the tribunal itself, the evidence of the Labour Party's only witness, it's own deputy general secretary, was a sad, degrading and demeaning affair."

Mr Galloway said the case against him was "politically motivated" and centred around him honestly expressing his own views.

And he railed against the way his interview in March to Abu Dhabi TV had been "distorted".