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New MP Naz Shah castigates 'spandex cat' George Galloway in maiden speech New MP Naz Shah castigates 'spandex cat' George Galloway in maiden speech
(35 minutes later)
Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who defeated George Galloway by more than 11,000 votes in May’s general election, has used her maiden speech in parliament to castigate the Respect politician for the “misogynistic” campaign he ran against her.Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who defeated George Galloway by more than 11,000 votes in May’s general election, has used her maiden speech in parliament to castigate the Respect politician for the “misogynistic” campaign he ran against her.
Beginning her speech on Tuesday, Shah said: “It is customary to say a few pleasant words about my predecessor...” before being interrupted by gales of laughter from the House of Commons.Beginning her speech on Tuesday, Shah said: “It is customary to say a few pleasant words about my predecessor...” before being interrupted by gales of laughter from the House of Commons.
She continued: “I have many words, but sadly only a few pleasant ones. My predecessor was, I am told, a great orator. The sad truth is that the only words he ever directed towards me were misogynistic, vitriolic, very dangerous and, to quote him, ‘only ever had a fleeting relationship with the truth’.”She continued: “I have many words, but sadly only a few pleasant ones. My predecessor was, I am told, a great orator. The sad truth is that the only words he ever directed towards me were misogynistic, vitriolic, very dangerous and, to quote him, ‘only ever had a fleeting relationship with the truth’.”
During dramatic hustings in Bradford in April, Galloway accused her of lying about being forced into marrying a cousin in Pakistan aged 15.During dramatic hustings in Bradford in April, Galloway accused her of lying about being forced into marrying a cousin in Pakistan aged 15.
She went on to make subtle reference to an argument Galloway picked with a brewery in his former constituency. During the campaign Bradford Brewery sent him a cheeky tweet asking if he was “still a thing”. He was not amused, and sent a series of messages suggesting the landlord had been “most unwise”.She went on to make subtle reference to an argument Galloway picked with a brewery in his former constituency. During the campaign Bradford Brewery sent him a cheeky tweet asking if he was “still a thing”. He was not amused, and sent a series of messages suggesting the landlord had been “most unwise”.
Returning to the notion that tradition dictated she should say something nice about Galloway, Shah said:“It would be most unwise of me not to compliment him on his sensational acting abilities, not forgetting, as demonstrated in Big Brother, his taste for red leotards and black hats.Returning to the notion that tradition dictated she should say something nice about Galloway, Shah said:“It would be most unwise of me not to compliment him on his sensational acting abilities, not forgetting, as demonstrated in Big Brother, his taste for red leotards and black hats.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his actions, which united the people of Bradford West. Their patience – and, indeed, mine –certainly paid off when we handed him his P45 on 8 May. The spandex cat has truly left the building.”“I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his actions, which united the people of Bradford West. Their patience – and, indeed, mine –certainly paid off when we handed him his P45 on 8 May. The spandex cat has truly left the building.”
Shah then used the platform to clarify exactly what constituted a forced marriage, after Galloway’s closest aide questioned whether she had been the victim of one because her mother and other family members were at the ceremony.Shah then used the platform to clarify exactly what constituted a forced marriage, after Galloway’s closest aide questioned whether she had been the victim of one because her mother and other family members were at the ceremony.
She said: “I would be doing an injustice to the victims of forced marriage and the agenda of violence against women if I did not mention that questioning whether a marriage is forced if a parent is present, and asking why victims do not seek support, flies in the face of years of campaigning and hard work, undermining the work of our very own forced marriage unit. A forced marriage, with or without parents and families present and regardless of age, is a forced marriage. ‘Being irresponsible with his rhetoric’ is an understatement.”She said: “I would be doing an injustice to the victims of forced marriage and the agenda of violence against women if I did not mention that questioning whether a marriage is forced if a parent is present, and asking why victims do not seek support, flies in the face of years of campaigning and hard work, undermining the work of our very own forced marriage unit. A forced marriage, with or without parents and families present and regardless of age, is a forced marriage. ‘Being irresponsible with his rhetoric’ is an understatement.”
During the speech she also paid tribute to her Conservative opponent, George Grant, and Sayeeda Warsi “for issuing statements of support during this vicious campaign, and indeed to the Southall Black Sisters and the Muslim Women’s Network UK, who also issued public statements of condemnation.” During the speech she also paid tribute to her Conservative opponent, George Grant, and Sayeeda Warsi “for issuing statements of support during this vicious campaign, and indeed to the Southall Black Sisters and the Muslim Women’s Network UK, who also issued public statements of condemnation”.