‘Julian Assange should receive the Nobel Peace Prize’ George …

PA

George Galloway speaking in the Commons in 2013

Controversial Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange "should receive the Nobel Peace Prize", former MP George Galloway has claimed, in a heated appearance at the Cambridge Union.

The former Labour and Respect Party MP answered questions from students at the debating society, where he also pledged his backing to Jeremy Corbyn.

A Labour MP from 1987, he was banned from the party in 2003 following his criticism of the Iraq War. However, when asked how the party's new leader would change Labour he said he regretted being expelled.

He said: "I spent nearly 30 years as a member of parliament and I would of course still have liked to be a Labour MP, the title of Labour MP is still something."

He described Corbyn as a "fantastic change", adding "Jeremy Corbyn has my absolute loyalty, support and love, and I wish him every success."

He was also asked about the union's recent decision to invite Assange to address students via video link, following a referendum of its members.

Assange has claimed asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, following allegations of rape made against him.

Galloway has previously faced criticism for describing Assange's behaviour as "bad sexual etiquette", but spoke to clarify his comments.

He said: "I regret the words I said in standing up for Julian Assange, I regret those words have given my enemies opportunities to attack me and attack him and I am sorry I upset some people."

However, he added: "Julian Assange should receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

"He has performed a service to the world and to those with enquiring minds.

"I am therefore glad the Cambridge students did what they should have done in the referendum in the last few days and he will be able to speak to you for himself."

He also branded Chancellor George Osborne a "pasty-faced product of the English ruling elite" who couldn't "cut the mustard" as Tory leader, saying the 2020 election would be "a much closer contest than the pundits will have you believe".

In a heated exchange with questions from the chamber he told one student to "shut up", while another branded him an "ogre", to jeers from the crowd.

When asked about his work on Iranian state TV he described Iran as a "great country", adding "Britain is the last country in the whole world that should be lecturing the Iranians on how to operate."

He also dubbed himself a "humble agitator" and "a soldier" in the Middle East peace process, defending his refusal to debate with an Israeli student at the Oxford Union in 2013.

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