Galloway: Troops out call

Launching Respect's election manifesto, George Galloway has rejected suggestion his party consists of "dreamers".

The former Labour MP said Respect's policies include the withdrawal of coalition troops form Iraq and the renationalisation of public services.

And the manifesto also contains pledges to introduce higher taxes on big business and the well off.

"You may say we are dreamers, but we are not the only ones who are dreaming of a better country and a better world," said Galloway.

His party's best chance of winning a seat is in Bethnal Green and Bow, where a bitter battle is taking place between Galloway and Labour's Oona King.

And amid a continuing row over electoral fraud involving postal votes, Galloway claimed King broke the rules by sending voters postal voting application forms with a photocopy of a pre-paid reply addressed to the local Labour Party headquarters.

Respect is now taking legal advice on whether the High Court could suspend postal voting across the country.

"Ballot papers have a habit of sticking to New Labour fingers," said Galloway.

"There is a very real danger of Birmingham and Blackburn being followed by Bethnal Green and Bow."