George Galloway's Public Meetings: The Truth

George Galloway has been slightly economical with the truth regarding his maunch vaunted "public meetings" he is appearing at around the country in February. He's made it sound as if he's turning up in various towns and cities for the masses to come to hear what he has to say. Yet the truth is somewhat more prosaic. He's actually being paid by a theatre promoter to appear at various theatres. How do I know this? Because it's the same one that promotes the Audience with Ann Widdecombe evenings that I host (coming to Edmonton Theatre on 9 February!). Galloway's fee for each evening will be in the region of £1-2,000 and he gets it even if no one turns up. And from the Telegraph this morning, we learn that only 125 tickets have been sold for his first appearance in Northampton. So come on, admit it George, you're trousering more than £1,000 for each of these events. Still, it'll all no doubt be given to charity. It's not the fact that he is being paid that is the problem, it's that he's given the impression that it's a series of old-style town hall public meetings which people can just turn up at. Well, I suppose they still can if they want to shell out £15 to hear him spout his venom. Me? I think I'd rather stay at home and cut my toenails.