George Galloway, MP for Kelvin in Glasgow.
Commons Standards Committee criticise Mr Galloway's business dealings (28th June 1997).The Standards Committee has been investigating allegations that Mr Galloway failed to register a financial interest in Hawk Communication International. It is understood that an initial inquiry by Sir Gordon Downey, the Standards Commissioner, cleared him of acting improperly. But a subsequent, so far unpublished, report by the committee is believed to question his role in the company, which has since been dissolved.
Under new rules already used against Mr Sarwar and another Labour MP, Bob Wareing, the party could suspend Mr Galloway pending its own inquiry. The Standards Committee could also recommend action, including suspension. But Mr Galloway said last night that he planned to challenge the committee's findings.
The report, which could be published this week, has disclosed long-standing business links between Mr Galloway and Mr Sarwar, who is Britain's first Muslim MP. The pair have known each other for almost 17 years. They are both high profile figures in Glasgow's Labour Party and share an active interest in Pakistani politics. Both are close to Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's former prime minister.
The expected release of the committee's report will coincide with a court case against Asian Voice Ltd, a company set up by Mr Galloway, and the former High Commissioner of Pakistan, Wajid Shamsul Hasan. The National Union of Journalists is taking Asian Voice to an industrial tribunal on behalf of 12 sacked employees who worked on East, a newspaper launched by the MP last year.