George Galloway dealt embarrassing blow as Monty Panesar quits party after just one week

Monty Panesar was unveiled as a Workers Party of Britain candidate (Image: Getty)

Monty Panesar has quit George Galloway's party just one week after being unveiled as a candidate.

The former England cricketer was due to contest the Ealing Southall constituency in west London, which is currently held by Labour.

But in a series of posts on X today, Mr Panesar said he will no longer contest the seat for the Workers Party of Britain.

He said: “I’m a proud Brit who has had the honour to represent my country at the highest level of cricket.

“I now want to do my bit to help others but I recognise I am at the beginning of my journey and still learning about how politics can help people.

“So today I am withdrawing as a General Election candidate for The Workers Party.

"I realise I need more time to listen, learn and find my political home, one that aligns with my personal and political values.”

Mr Panesar was the most high-profile candidate announced by Mr Galloway, the MP for Rochdale and leader of the Workers Party of Britain, during a press conference in Westminster on April 30.

Mr Galloway's party is aiming to scupper Labour's chances at the next general election in protest against Sir Keir Starmer's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict after he initially failed to back an immediate ceasefire.

But Mr Panesar appeared to be confused about the role of Nato in an interview with Times Radio the day after he was unveiled.

The political firebrand's party has pledged to leave the military alliance made up of 32 Western countries including the UK.

But Mr Panesar incorrectly suggested that Nato was making it more difficult for Britain to control its borders when it comes to immigration.

He said: “I think the reason they’re saying that, the reason our party is saying it is because we don’t really have control on our borders.

“We have illegal migration and then what ends up happening is some of these illegal migrants go into the poorer, more deprived areas, and then the resources get strained in [those] areas.

“And it affects, you know, the ordinary people, you know, our working people in this country. So it affects the poorest. And I think that’s one of the reasons, you know, our party wants to maybe, you know, have a debate about is it really necessary to be in Nato or not.”