galloway's press conference

Text from Chris Moyles Radio Show January 26 2006,

"Aled says that what happened was, he spoke to George at the press conference, and he told them why he went into the house. Usually you only get the one, but then Zoe asked if he wanted one more question. So he thought he’d go with this one:“George, in the house you came over as a bitter, patronising, twisted, old man. And with that in mind what your favourite part of it?”

There is an audible breath taken in, then a voice can clearly be heard to whisper, “George, shall I punch him?” Aled says “I’m saying that’s how you came across… how you came across…” and a ladies voice (Zoe?) says “we’ll move on”

Aled says it doesn’t come across well on the tape, as there were a lot of people in the room at the time. It was all extremely uncomfortable. Aled says that some of his people were stood against the wall, he’s never seen that before, and they were stood over the journalists.

So what happens is, as soon as he asks the question, one of his people goes “ohhhhh” like that, and that wasn’t good.Chris asks what the punching thing was all about. Aled says that then there was the “do you want me to punch him for you” comment, which Chris confirms again with Aled.

Aled says “I’m doing my job, sitting there” and Chris says “that’s threatening behaviour” and Aled says he knows who it was, although he won’t say it on air. Chris says surely it’s not someone who was part of his party, Aled says yep. Chris says “really?” and Aled says yep again.

Chris says that is absolutely outrageous. Aled says there’s more. George looks at him, looked at the guy and threw his hand in the air and looks away, like he was saying “I’m not answering that question. Chris says “unbelievable.”

Aled says that he was then trying to justify the question by saying “this is how you came across” and he was like “please don’t get so upset George, that’s just how I saw you”. Chris asks what the question was, they repeat it again. Chris says “there you go, see, that was the actual question” and then asks who was it saying “oooh?” The people, says Aled, that’s his people. The same person who threatened him?

Aled says he’s not sure, he doesn’t know that. But he saw the person who said that he was going to punch him.They repeat that part again. Chris says that’s outrageous. Aled says another person says, which didn’t come up on the audio, shouted out… Chris interrupts, saying “seriously, this is like one of the baddies in Scooby Doo” … Aled says that another of George’s people shouted out “do your job, be professional” – Chris says “did they really?” and Aled says “I think I am.”

Chris says maybe that was aimed at George. Aled says that when answering the next question, Dennis replies to Aled again, and spots the childish humour from the other journo’s. Clip of Dennis saying that George isn’t a bitter man, he’s an intelligent man.

Aled saying he’s not an old man, but that’s how he came across. Dennis says that he’s just saying though, if you’re talking to me, we’ll go at it. We’ll go at it, you understand what I’m saying, we’ll go at it. If you gonna talk to him, respect him.

Aled says something about his audience, but Dennis continues “if you’re going to call someone an old man, call your father an old man, ok, he’s not an old man, he’s a very respected peron in this country, and you should respect him as a person.” Aled says “It’s a two way street” and Dennis says he knows that, but let him do his job, if he called him (Dennis) and old man, he’d be “over in your ass”

Lots of cheering, jeers and noise from the press and people there. Dennis says again, “I’ll be over in your ass”.Chris says “so if you called George Galloway an old man again, Dennis Rodman would be in your ass??”

Aled says he felt like pointing out to him “I’m happy, thank you” but, you know. Chris says what the hell is that all about, and then says that that respect is something that you earn, that’s the whole point, you don’t naturally have respect, you need to earn respect. That’s the whole point of respect, it’s such a precious thing, you have to earn it. Nobody on this earth is just naturally given the fact that they should be respected. And it’s the name of their party, for God’s sake.

Aled says that he should point out that he’s wearing the Radio One Beat Bullying Campaign jumper throughout all of this. Chris says fabulous. They play Dennis again, saying “we’ll go at it” and wonder what it means.

Aled says that he didn’t quite understand that. Did it mean they’d have sex? Chris says that he knows that George is all backed up, but he didn’t think that he’d be his type. Aled corrects Chris, and says he meant George. Chris says well, hey why not, it sounds like one big orgy.

Aled says “so, it was a fun evening.” Texts have been coming in, asking ff Aled enjoyed it. Chris says it doesn’t sound like it. Aled says he’s a scary guy, when he gets up off his seat and he’s over you, saying “lets go at it” does he mean a fight, or does he mean verbally?