George Galloway |
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The leading figurehead in the Stop The War Coalition, George Galloway was recently expelled from the Labour Party for expressing his distate for the war in Iraq. He now stands as an independent MP for Glasgow Kelvin. He regularly speaks to packed meetings throughout the UK and writes a hugely popular weekly column for the Mail On Sunday In Scotland.
Author of I’m Not The Only One, George Galloway is one of the most controversial figures in British politics today. A central organising force and mobilising figurehead for the Stop The War Coalition - recently expelled from the Labour Party for expressing his distaste for the war in Iraq – Galloway interrupts his incredibly hectic schedule and spares some time to talk exclusively to Penguin.co.uk.
What motivated you to write on this subject?
Well what with the war, the resistance, my seat in parliament, representing my constituents, fighting (and winning) libel actions, forming a new party, contesting the European parliament election, getting expelled out of the Labour Party, being a husband father and grandfather I suppose I had a bit of time on my hands!
Seriously though I felt that there had now developed a critical mass of thinking people in Britain searching for an alternative to the rotten twisting spinning mendacity of the British political class. I hope this points them in the right direction.
What kind of experience do you want your readers to have?
I'd like them to laugh a bit, cry a bit, get angry a bit and want to know a bit more. And I'd like to persuade the sceptics where I'm coming from and that agree with me or not, I am sincere and honest and I don't just say what others want to hear. That I have the courage of my convictions; I have dared to be a Daniel...
What inspired you to become a writer?
As one who left school early to work in a factory - and who didn't even get a reply to my one and only job application to be a journalist (with the Scotsman at the age of eighteen) it astonishes me that I now don't have the time to keep up with all the writing I'm asked to do - and get paid for it! I see my writing as an extension of my public speaking, the one feeding the other in a constant hurly burly of ideas, expression, explanation, denunciation...
Who has influenced your work over the years?
Jack London, Joseph Heller, John Pilger, Harold Pinter, Seumas Milne, Mathew Parris, Christopher Silvester, Alan Clark, Said Aburish.
In your busy schedule where and when do you get time to write?
I write wherever I can. I wrote this book in Portugal (where it was stolen in a mysterious burglary) and Beirut. I sent it most days to Penguin from the Web Café near the American University of Beirut (where the McDonalds guarded by half the Lebanese army is situated).
Is there a particular book or author that has had a significant influence on you as a writer?
Jack London's The Iron Heel, Joseph Heller's Catch 22, Seumas Milne's The Enemy Within, Alan Clark's Donkeys and his matchless Diaries.
