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Former featured article candidateGeorge Galloway is a former featured article candidate. Please view the links under Article milestones below to see why the nomination was archived. For older candidates, please check the archive.
Article milestones
DateProcessResult
October 21, 2005Featured article candidateNot promoted

POV tag

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Lede reads more of a deliberate collection of controversies than his actual political positions or a summary of the body. Makeandtoss (talk) 11:12, 19 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I can't see any obvious lack of NPOV in the lead section. This can be in the eye of the beholder. Is there anything that you think definitely should not be in the lead section?--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 13:47, 19 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The controversies, although should definitely be included in the lede per MOS, they are overwhelming it to the point of obscuring an actual summary of his life, as a biography should do. Makeandtoss (talk) 11:52, 20 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
A few quick points:
This sentence needs to be rewritten because it is tortuous and contains the word denied:
Galloway supported Ba'athist Iraq and travelled there to meet Saddam Hussein in 1994, in which controversy arose from comments considered to have praised Saddam, which he denied.
Do we need to know in the lead that a head injury led him "to wear a hat since"?
Do we need to quote voting percentages in the lead?
The long third paragraphs is a melange of unrelated facts.
Afaict, the phrase "and Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO" is not mentioned in the article body.
Burrobert (talk) 14:27, 20 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Agreed, that these are some of the issues. Makeandtoss (talk) 14:31, 20 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Makeandtoss, you were the one who re-wrote that sentence about Saddam, and added the bit about Galloway wearing a hat. – Asarlaí (talk) 16:00, 20 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Biographies should focus on the aspects of a person's life that the sources we use focus on. If sources frequently report on controversies, the article should reflect that. Cortador (talk) 07:00, 3 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The lead is, or at least was, a fair summary of the article body. The 1st paragraph is a short introduction, the 2nd is about his early life and political career, the 3rd is about his political positions and views, and the last is about his career as a presenter.
Makeandtoss, you say the controversies are "overwhelming" the lead, but only three controversies are mentioned: his praise for Saddam Hussein, the allegations he received illicit payments from Saddam's regime, and his expulsion from Labour. They take up only three lines. That's despite Galloway sparking numerous controversies in his lengthy career. Each of these three controversies are in the lead because they were important events in his political career and are still regularly mentioned in news articles about him today, twenty-thirty years later. So the NPOV tag is totally unwarranted. – Asarlaí (talk) 16:14, 20 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
It's not essential for the lead to tell us that a head injury led him "to wear a hat since". But it's quite useful, in view of the fact it's very unusual for anyone to habitually wear a hat all the time these days. As with Gregory Porter, that detail could be in "Personal life" and should certainly not be only in the lead section. But it's certainly not "controversy".— Preceding unsigned comment added by Martinevans123 (talkcontribs) 16:26, 20 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Religion

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Galloway should not be described as a Catholic. He is openly anti-Christian. HerbGowan (talk) 19:22, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Where is he described as "Catholic", apart from by himself? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:33, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
He is often described as Catholic, probably because of Wikipedia. In reality he has always opposed Christianity. HerbGowan (talk) 19:35, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Just to clarify, I meant where in this article is he described as "Catholic", apart from by himself? Your assertion "probably because of Wikipedia" might be difficult to substantiate. Martinevans123 (talk) 20:04, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Many people probably take his words in this article as gospel. Hitler described himself as a Christian in a speech in February 1933, yet was openly anti-Christian like Galloway. HerbGowan (talk) 13:41, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That's not the sort of Gospel that I'd follow. There's no accounting for some people's stupidity. Martinevans123 (talk) 13:48, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Given that this is based on things that Galloway has said about himself, why would it be Wikipedia's fault?--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 21:02, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Galloway has always openly opposed Christianity. He even tried to blame Christians for World War II and the Holocaust on BBC "Question Time". HerbGowan (talk) 13:38, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
If this hostility has been widely reported by secondary sources, it could be added to the article. Martinevans123 (talk) 13:47, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
He now leads a small fringe party that is openly anti-Christian and anti-Semitic, the latter under the guise of "anti-Zionism". HerbGowan (talk) 14:03, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Are you suggesting any change to the article content on that score? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 14:17, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Galloway is clearly not a Catholic. The section should detail his anti-Christian activities. HerbGowan (talk) 18:15, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, which section? Martinevans123 (talk) 20:20, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Misleading lede

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Galloway was not expelled from Labour due to his opposition to the Iraq War. HerbGowan (talk) 20:00, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

So why was he? Martinevans123 (talk) 20:05, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
It was because he gave an interview in which he was accused of encouraging Arabs to kill British troops in Iraq. HerbGowan (talk) 13:35, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Do you have a good source for that? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 13:49, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
An editor below has just provided one. HerbGowan (talk) 14:09, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The text later on in the article is clear that this is why he was expelled.--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 20:56, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It is not the real reason. HerbGowan (talk) 13:34, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
See this BBC News source. I don't think that the wording in the article is inaccurate, and wonder if there is some sort of WP:COI here.--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 14:00, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
As your own source states it was because Galloway was accused of encouraging attacks on British troops. HerbGowan (talk) 14:05, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
So the BBC source said he faced five charges:
  • he incited Arabs to fight British troops
  • he incited British troops to defy orders
  • he incited Plymouth voters to reject Labour MPs
  • he threatened to stand against Labour
  • he backed an anti-war candidate in Preston
And that he was found guilty of all but the third charge. I think the lead section just summarises his very clear anti-war stance. Perhaps more detail is warranted in the main body? Martinevans123 (talk) 14:10, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Many Labour MPs strongly opposed the Iraq War. Only Galloway was expelled from the party- because it was not due to his anti-war activism. The lede must be reworded as it is factually wrong, and encourages readers to view Galloway as a martyr. HerbGowan (talk) 14:17, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
It's the second charge that is the biggest problem for Galloway. The Abu Dhabi television interview was probably a major reason for his sacking.[1]--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 14:17, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure the word "martyr" springs to my mind for someone expelled from the Labour Party. I'd suggest that the wording in the lead section should not be changed unless it can be wholly supported by the detail in the main body. Martinevans123 (talk) 14:19, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Galloway is often described as a political martyr. He was expelled from Labour because he was clearly not loyal to the party, and had committed treason. HerbGowan (talk) 14:24, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure the UK Labour Party has the authority to charge anyone with "treason". Martinevans123 (talk) 14:29, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This is wandering off into original research territory. The current wording in the lead section is "He was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 due to his prominent opposition to the Iraq War" and this is supported by the two sources above. Treason isn't mentioned, and if he had done this, he would have been charged.--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 14:31, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, and the main body says: "The following day, the committee unanimously found Galloway guilty of four of the five charges: inciting Arabs to fight British troops, inciting British troops to defy orders, inciting voters to reject Labour MPs, and threatening to stand against Labour. Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party." which looks like a perfectly accurate account of the two sources. Martinevans123 (talk) 14:41, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The lede should mention the Abu Dhabi interview as it was the main reason. Implying it was just for opposing war is dangerous. HerbGowan (talk) 14:48, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I think that might be too much detail for the lead section. But, in any case, where does the main body say that the Abu Dhabi interview was "the main reason"? Martinevans123 (talk) 14:51, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Eric Joyce stated it was the main reason to Galloway on "Newsnight" at the time. HerbGowan (talk) 14:58, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps you can find a secondary source, that describes what Eric Joyce said on Newsnight, with a quote about the "main reason"? Martinevans123 (talk) 15:45, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Telling the troops of your own country to disobey orders during wartime is clearly treason. In an earlier age Galloway would have been tried like William Joyce and John Amery. HerbGowan (talk) 14:46, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, that's just your own personal WP:SYNTH. Martinevans123 (talk) 14:52, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

We are approaching WP:DROPTHESTICK here. Martin and I have explained that Wikipedia articles are based on reliable secondary sources, and while I don't dispute that the Abu Dhabi television interview was probably at the top of the list of reasons why he was expelled from the party, this isn't explicitly stated in the sourcing.--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 15:20, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

If his expulsion was due to "anti-war activism" many other Labour MPs would have been expelled. HerbGowan (talk) 15:28, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
We all know that some Labour MPs opposed the war in Iraq, but George Galloway used such flamboyant language that his expulsion became pretty much inevitable. We aren't here to ask "Why was MP A expelled but MP B wasn't?"--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 15:41, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
No other MP was accused of inciting attacks on British forces. That went far beyond simply "prominent opposition to the Iraq War". HerbGowan (talk) 18:13, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
If this is indeed a fact, and it has been widely reported, it shouldn't be too difficult to find some source(s) which says this. Martinevans123 (talk) 20:22, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Attack

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The attack on Galloway does not belong in the lede as it was only a very minor incident which caused a few bruises. HerbGowan (talk) 18:19, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Would you describe yourself as a big fan of Galloway? Martinevans123 (talk) 18:26, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. HerbGowan (talk) 18:42, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Normally I would agree, but since the attack is apparently the reason why he wears a hat all the time, it does have some degree of notability.--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 18:57, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

He wears the hat because he is completely bald. HerbGowan (talk) 19:03, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
It's sourced here.--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 19:16, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Not a direct source. HerbGowan (talk) 19:22, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
This looks a lot like WP:AUTO. Wikipedia articles cannot be rewritten because the subject or someone close to the subject complained about them.--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 19:37, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
What do you mean by "a direct source"? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 20:23, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
There would need to be a direct quotation from Galloway. HerbGowan (talk) 16:08, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]