GEORGE Galloway, the candidate for Bradford West, has played down the importance of a Twitter exchange with a new micro-brewery and bar which has just opened in the city.

Bradford Brewery, in Rawson Road tweeted to Mr Galloway’s popular account asking whether he was “still a thing.”

Mr Galloway replied: "What does that mean? And should you as a licensed premises in my constituency really be writing that?"

Bradford Brewery responded: "You're the only candidate not to come and say hi. Was just wondering", before adding: "You're a candidate. It's not your constituency."

Mr Galloway then wrote: “Well then, I shall return to this matter after the election. You have been most unwise."

A spokesman for Mr Galloway dismissed the matter as trivial and unimportant.

"This appears to be some sort of publicity stunt by the Bradford Brewery and there are much more important things to attend to," he said.

Matthew Halliday, managing director at Bradford Brewery, said: “It all started after I had walked past his (George Galloway’s) office, which is only 30 seconds from our front door.

“It reminded me he was the only parliamentary candidate not to come in and say hello, and I was in a cheeky mood, so I tweeted him.

“It was not a publicity stunt, it was nothing more than a small business asking whether he knew we existed.

“The reaction has proved he doesn’t want us to exist as a business.

 “We started this business in Bradford, and we are 100 per cent Bradford.

“If, sadly, he is re-elected, we will put up a candidate to stand against him.”