George Galloway, the former MP and Workers Party of Britain leader, has said he was detained by counter-terrorism police for nine hours at Gatwick Airport. The 71-year-old and his wife, Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, were stopped on Saturday under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. They were released without charge after having their phones and laptops confiscated.
Mr Galloway claimed the officers gave “no reason at all” for the detention, alleging it was a pretext to access his communications. Speaking on his internet show, he said armed officers questioned him about his views on Russia and China. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the stop but said neither individual was arrested.
The couple had returned to the UK from Moscow via Abu Dhabi. Mr Galloway said he missed a speaking engagement in London, which was to be attended by the Chinese ambassador. He described the journey back as “incommunicado” without phones or a laptop.
The Met stated the stop was lawful under the 2019 Act, which allows officers to investigate potential hostile activities threatening national security. Mr Galloway, a vocal critic of British and US foreign policy, lost his Rochdale seat in the 2024 general election after winning it in a by-election months earlier.
