Gatwick incident: what happened
Former Labour MP George Galloway and his wife were detained by counter-terrorism police at Gatwick Airport on Saturday morning, according to the Workers Party of Britain (WPB). The party said the couple had just returned to the UK from Moscow via Abu Dhabi. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s were stopped by counter-terrorism officers under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, but neither was arrested and they were allowed to proceed.
What Schedule 3 allows
Schedule 3 enables officers at ports or border areas in the UK to stop, question, search and detain a person to determine if they have engaged in hostile activity. Those detained can be asked to provide information, including passwords to devices, though it isn’t clear whether such a request was made in this case.
Reactions from WPB and police
The Workers Party of Britain said it was informed that Galloway and his wife were detained at Gatwick, and later stated on X that they had been released without charge. The party insisted there was never any chance of an offence and described the events as an attempt to intimidate opponents of its political stance. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the stop but stressed that the individuals were not arrested and were allowed to continue their journey.
What this means for UK politics and border security
The episode highlights ongoing debates about border security, civil liberties, and how anti-terror powers are applied in public life. While police emphasize that the use of Schedule 3 is a routine mechanism within its remit, critics argue such stops can have a chilling effect on political discourse. Supporters of the measure say it provides a necessary safeguard at the border. In this case, the authorities have not indicated any charges, and the pair were released after questioning.
A note on Galloway’s political path
George Galloway has had a long and varied political career, serving as a Labour MP until 2003, then as an independent and as a Respect Party MP for multiple constituencies from 2003 to 2015. In March 2024, he became the WPB’s first MP after winning a Rochdale by-election, before losing the seat in the following general election.
