George Galloway. Photograph: Michael Stephens/PA
It's a curious thing. You'd expect George Galloway to have strong views on the terror bill - particularly the proposals to make it an offence to glorify or encourage an act of terrorism and plans to extend the period that police can hold a terror suspect without charge to 90 days. But, as the record shows, Mr Galloway didn't vote. What can have kept him away?
Mr Galloway's office at Westminster says the Respect MP wanted to vote, but had a "pre-existing engagement" and couldn't get to the Commons. Whatever the engagement was, Mr Galloway must be kicking himself. Had he voted, the government wouldn't even have scraped a majority of one on the issue of intent to encourage terrorism.
