George Galloway claims the police "saved my life" after he was attacked and confronted by a group of radical Muslim youths last night, but he could be accused of stirring up mob passions himself. A press release sent late last night from the Respect coalition broke the tacit agreement among the press and broadcasters of not revealing the prime minister's movements in advance, saying Tony and Cherie Blair would be eating lunch with Oona King at 1pm in Brick Lane, and quoting Mr Galloway as calling for a "mobilisation against the Blairs".
He said: "They may block off the roads. They may helicopter him and his wife in but they will know the feeling of the people of the East End, the hatred and feelings of betrayal."
Labour denied Mr Blair had ever intended to be in the East End today, although this Respect-friendly blog seemed pretty confident he would be – and confident he had pulled out.
Neither side in what is clearly becoming the most bitter battle of the election can claim to be angels, and journalists are learning to take what both candidates say about each other with a large dose of salt, but tonight's head to head at Queen Mary & Westfield University in the east London constituency should be tasty – guests from the local community organisation Telco only, have been invited. After yesterday's attack on George Galloway, and last week's egg-throwing incident during a Jewish memorial ceremony attended by the incumbent Oona King, tonight's election hustings has unfortunate precedents for turning nasty.
I shall be there and report back tomorrow.
