Ya Bass

I thought George Galloway came out of the Senate Hearing on the oil for food corruption relatively unharmed. He made his points and had time for plenty of soundbites too - mostly unrelated to what he was being asked - but that is often all that matters in today's tabloidised media age.

However he claimed under oath that the Charity Commission report on the Mariam appeal looked at "every penny in and every penny out" thus clearing him and the appeal.

Really? The Charity Commission report on the other hand stated:

"The Commission has been unable to obtain all the books and records of the Appeal. Mr Galloway, the first Chairman of the Appeal, has stated that this documentation was sent to Amman and Baghdad in 2001 when Fawaz Zuriekat became Chairman of the Appeal. Mr Galloway has informed the Commission that this documentation is no longer under the control of the original trustees of the Appeal and cannot be located by them. Mr Galloway confirmed that the Appeal did not produce annual profit and loss accounts or balance sheets."

Charity Commission Report.