GEORGE Galloway has called on the Government to reinstate funding for migrant rescue missions in the Mediterranean.

The Respect party leader said many of the “tragic migrants” who had drowned in the past fortnight would be alive today if it weren’t for pulling out of the European search and rescue mission.

He said: “That decision and the consequences will go down in infamy.

He said he was only one of two MPs to raise a motion at the time condemning the decision to pull out of the Mare Nostrum rescue mission, which he called “wrong and morally indefensible”.

Mr Galloway is the Respect party candidate for Bradford West. Also standing are George Grant for the Conservatives, Naz Shah for Labour, Mohammed ‘Harry’ Boota for Ukip, Alun Griffiths for the Liberal Democrats, Celia Hickson for the Greens, Therese Hirst for the English Democrats and Independent James Kirkcaldy.