Anti-Israel activist George Galloway has announced that he is suing the Canadian government.

The former Respect MP and Press TV presenter began legal action because he claimed the country's Immigration Minister Jason Kenney damaged his reputation when he banned Mr Galloway from Canada as a threat to national security in March 2009.

Mr Kenney also accused him of giving money to Hamas. His spokesman said at the time that Mr Galloway was an "infandous street-corner Cromwell" who was "legally inadmissible" under laws designed to protect residents from those who funded, supported or engaged in terrorism.

Infandous is a term meaning "too odious to be expressed or mentioned".

Mr Galloway said he was suing for "defamation and misfeasance of office" and that he would seek £958,000 in damages.

The ban was later overturned and Mr Galloway's speaking tour went ahead.

Mr Galloway, currently a Scottish Parliamentary candidate, is already embroiled in a legal dispute with News of the World over alleged phone hacking. He also threatened to sue BT earlier this week.

In December Mr Galloway was barred from the US before a speaking tour.