On Saturday, September 27, 2025, the usually bustling arrivals hall at London’s Gatwick Airport became the stage for a political drama that’s sent ripples through British politics and beyond. George Galloway, the outspoken leader of the Workers Party of Britain (WPB) and former Member of Parliament, was stopped by counter-terrorism officers alongside his wife, Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, as they returned to the UK from Moscow via Abu Dhabi. The incident, confirmed by multiple sources including the Metropolitan Police and the Workers Party itself, has sparked fierce debate about the boundaries of security, civil liberties, and political dissent in modern Britain.
According to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson cited by The Telegraph, “We can confirm that on Saturday, counter-terrorism officers at Gatwick airport stopped a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. Neither of them were arrested and they were allowed on their way.” The law in question gives officers sweeping powers to stop, question, search, and detain individuals at UK borders to determine whether they have engaged in hostile activity. It can also compel those stopped to provide passwords to electronic devices, and allows police to retain or destroy items seized—even confidential material.
The Workers Party of Britain, led by Galloway since its founding in 2019, wasted no time in framing the incident as a politically motivated act. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the party declared: “There was never any chance of an offence. We were obstructed from providing legal support, and the conduct of the affair has been designed to intimidate political opponents of the drive towards war with Russia and China.” The party further insisted, “There is no information on charges or alleged offences. Therefore we may conclude this is politically motivated intimidation.”
Supporters and political allies quickly rallied to Galloway’s side. Adnan Hussain, the independent Muslim MP for Blackburn, posted: “This is not the Britain we’re meant to be. Mandatory digital IDs, pensioners arrested for protesting genocide, and now detaining political leaders along with their families. This isn’t liberal democracy. It’s becoming a dystopian police state. Solidarity.” Journalist and activist Yvonne Ridley was even more blunt, stating, “I can’t believe our Workers Party GB and Workers Party Scotland boss George Galloway has been detained under the Terrorism Act. This is outrageous & Zionism at work.” Fellow Workers Party member and former Labour MP Chris Williamson echoed the outrage: “My friend and comrade, George Galloway, who is the leader of my party, the Workers Party, was detained by police at Gatwick Airport this morning. Wtf is happening to our country? What hell are you playing at Sussex Police? This is totally out of order.”
Despite the uproar, the Metropolitan Police have maintained that the stop was conducted according to established protocols and that neither Galloway nor his wife was arrested. The couple was allowed to continue their journey after being questioned, and, as of now, no charges have been brought. It remains unclear whether police requested access to their devices or passwords during the stop—a power permitted under Schedule 3 of the Act.
Galloway’s political career has long been marked by controversy and confrontation. First elected to Parliament in 1987 as a Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead, he was expelled from the party in 2003 after a bitter dispute with then-Prime Minister Tony Blair over the UK’s involvement in the Iraq War. Galloway subsequently became an independent MP and later the leader of the anti-war Respect Party, winning seats in Bethnal Green and Bow and, later, Bradford West. His most recent parliamentary success came in March 2024, when he won a by-election in Rochdale as the first MP for the Workers Party of Britain, though he lost the seat in the general election later that year.
Galloway has never shied away from controversy. He has worked for Russian-state media outlet RT, is a fierce critic of NATO and Western military support for Ukraine, and has consistently championed the Palestinian cause. His outspoken support for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad has, however, put him at odds with some Muslim activists and groups. This complex political profile has made him a lightning rod for both admiration and criticism across the political spectrum.
The timing and context of Galloway’s stop at Gatwick have only intensified speculation about its motivations. In May, he traveled to Moscow to attend Russia’s Victory Parade, and just days before his Kremlin appearance, he was in Iran to collect an award named after Ismail Haniyeh, the former political head of Hamas. Galloway’s persistent advocacy for dialogue with Russia and China, and his vocal opposition to what he describes as the West’s “drive towards war,” have led his supporters to see the airport incident as part of a broader campaign to silence dissenting voices.
The Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, under which Galloway and his wife were stopped, has itself been a subject of controversy since its passage. While the Act was designed to bolster national security in an era of evolving threats, critics argue that its broad powers risk undermining civil liberties and chilling legitimate political expression. The ability to detain individuals without charge, demand access to private devices, and retain confidential material has raised alarms among legal experts and human rights advocates.
For its part, the Workers Party of Britain is not backing down. The party’s statement after the incident insisted, “Freedom of expression is lying on the scrap heap.” They have called on supporters to amplify their message and demand accountability, while also warning that such incidents signal a worrying trend in British democracy. “We were obstructed from providing legal support and the conduct of the affair has been designed to intimidate political opponents of the drive towards war with Russia and China,” the party alleged.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police, while confirming the facts of the stop, have declined to comment further on the specifics of the case or the reasons for selecting Galloway and his wife for questioning. The lack of transparency has fueled further speculation and distrust among Galloway’s supporters and civil liberties campaigners alike.
As the dust settles, the incident at Gatwick has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over national security, political freedoms, and the boundaries of state power. For Galloway and his supporters, it is a stark warning of the risks facing those who challenge the prevailing foreign policy consensus. For others, it is a reminder of the delicate balance between security and liberty in a rapidly changing world. Either way, the story is far from over—and for many, the questions raised at Gatwick will linger long after the headlines fade.
