The British government is coming under mounting pressure to disinvite the tyrannical King Hamad of Bahrain to the Queen’s Jubilee luncheon for sovereigns on 18 May, after the issue led to fiery exchanges on a much-watched BBC political panel show last night. George Galloway, the radical left-wing MP who declared his recent victory in the city of Bradford to be “the Bradford Spring” went head to head with a pro-government peer Baroness Warsi on ‘Question Time’ who said people should ‘stop being mean’ about it.

Bahrain is presently experiencing violent anti-government protests and clashes with security forces as the Shi’ite majority seek to break the power of the Sunni monarchy and political governance. Thousands have been arrested, hundreds have died, including dozens from torture, as Bahrain’s King Hamad declares martial law and states of emergency in an attempt to cling to power.

A Formula 1 race scheduled to take place this weekend is still scheduled to go ahead.

Bizarrely, ultra-leftist ‘Gorgeous’ George ended up defending the Queen, insisting the guest list was in the hands of the British government. Thanks to Archbishop Cranmer for this transcript:

Warsi: Well, the decision, err, for the King to attend the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee... 



Galloway: He’s invited.



Warsi: ...is, err, a decision taken by the Royal Family.



Galloway: It’s not and you know that’s not true. The Prime Minister advises on these matters.



Warsi: Of course there is advice, of course, of course the Prime Minister advises on these matters, I accept that. But it is a decision that ultimately had to be taken by, err, by, err, the Royal Family. If it’s a decision that the Queen had decided that on her Diamond Jubilee, err, she would like certain people present at that celebration, then I really think we can stop being mean about it...



Galloway: You shouldn’t blame the Queen.



Warsi: ...and allow her...



Galloway: It’s not the Queen’s fault.



Warsi: ...and allow the Queen to have her Diamond Jubilee and allow...



Galloway: It’s not her fault.

The king’s son, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, was last year invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton but pulled out at the last minute in a move that spared the couple from potential embarrassment.

Buckingham Palace refused to scomment on the issue of King Hamad, telling the Daily Beast: “We have confirmed that the Queen is hosting a lunch for sovereigns on 18 May. There will be no confirmation of who is attending until the day itself.”