George Galloway to conduct a “social cleansing” of London if elected mayor

George Galloway has officially thrown his name into the running to become London’s next mayor.

The leader of the Respect Party, who lost his seat as Bradford West MP in last month’s election, recently listed several policies he would implement to address what he described as the “social cleansing” of the capital.

Speaking at the Ethical Society in Holborn, in central London, Galloway stated that he would purchase residential buildings left vacant for a full year and will not grant planning consent to any new-builds unless 50% were affordable housing.

He said: “I will tackle the housing crisis as my number one priority. We will compulsory purchase - and we have the power to do so - any house that has been unlived in, without a proper excuse, for one year or more.

“House prices and backbreaking rents are driving people further and further to the edge of London, literally and metaphorically”.

During Sunday evening’s speech, Galloway, known for his outspoken nature, also branded London’s current mayor Boris Johnson a “blond buffoon”, and described the “three main political parties” as “three cheeks of the same arse.”

As well as pledging to tackle white-collar crime, the controversial political figure promised to “build a city that benefits everyone, not just those dripping in gold”.

Galloway lost his Bradford West seat on may 7 to Labour’s Naz Shah, who won by a majority of more than 11,000 votes.

The election for the capital’s new mayor will take place in May 2016.