Former MP George Galloway and his wife, Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, were detained briefly at Gatwick Airport on Saturday morning by counter-terrorism police, according to statements from the Workers Party of Britain (WPB) and corroborating police sources. The events unfolded as the couple reportedly returned to the UK from Moscow via Abu Dhabi. The incident underscores the broad reach of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the powers it authorizes at ports and the border area.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his 70s and a woman in their 40s were stopped by counter-terrorism officers under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. Officials said that neither individual was arrested and both were allowed to continue their journey. The statement noted that officers may require information, including devices passwords, as part of their inquiries, though it did not specify whether any data requests occurred in this case.
In a brief statement, the Met Police said: “We can confirm that on Saturday, counter-terrorism officers at Gatwick airport stopped a man in his 70s and a woman in their 40s under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.” The force added that there were no arrests and that the pair were released to proceed with their travel plans.
The WPB, which nominated George Galloway as its leader in recent political developments, said it was informed that Galloway and his wife had been detained at Gatwick by police on Saturday morning. In a later update on X (formerly Twitter), the party said the couple—Galloway, 71, and his wife, 40—had been released without charge and emphasized that there was never any suggestion of wrongdoing. The WPB described the episode as an attempt to obstruct political opponents who advocate amity rather than enmity with other nations, including Russia and China.
George Galloway’s political career has spanned several roles: a Labour MP until 2003, followed by time as an independent and a member of the Respect Party, representing different constituencies between 2003 and 2015. He later became the WPB’s first MP after winning a Rochdale by-election in March 2024, before losing the seat in the subsequent general election. The WPB’s statement and the police confirmation together frame this incident as a routine security check that did not result in charges, while also fueling the party’s narrative about government and law enforcement scrutiny of its members.
Policy context and implications
Schedule 3 to the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 provides officers with authority to stop, question, search, and detain individuals at a port or border area in the UK to determine whether they have engaged in hostile activity. Detainees can be asked to provide information, including passwords to electronic devices, though the specifics of what was requested in this instance have not been publicly disclosed. Police emphasise that such stops are part of ongoing efforts to protect national security, while political parties and supporters may view these actions through the lens of political rivalry and press freedom.
Reaction and next steps
With both police statements and WPB communications published, questions may linger about the proportionality and transparency of a routine security stop involving a high-profile political figure. The Met Police indicated no charges were pursued, and the WPB asserted that no offence was possible, while framing the event within a broader debate about political intimidation and international relations. As with many such incidents, additional details—such as the precise triggers for the stop, the duration of the inquiry, and any data requests—could emerge with time. For now, this episode remains a controlled, non-criminal outcome of a border security check, coupled with a political reaction from the WPB.
