Bradford West MP George Galloway has defended his claim that a sexual assault allegation against WikiLeaks campaigner Julian Assange amounted to no more than “bad sexual etiquette” as the storm created by his comments continued today.

The Telegraph & Argus reported yesterday how the Respect MP had said in a video podcast on Monday that even if the complaints made against Mr Assange by two women in Sweden were true, they did not constitute rape.

But in a statement issued yesterday, Mr Galloway, said the allegations against Mr Assange had “all the hallmarks of a set-up”.

“No never means yes and non-consensual sex is rape,” he said.

“There’s no doubt about it and that has always been my position. But if my remarks on the podcast need clarification I am happy to do that. “I don’t believe, from what we know, that the Director of Public Prosecutions would sanction a prosecution in Britain. What occurred is not rape as most people understand it.”

Mr Galloway’s comments have provoked a backlash of criticism from women’s groups, and even his own party’s leader, Salma Yaqoob.

In a posting on her website, she said: “Let me be clear, as a politician and as a woman, rape occurs when a woman has not consented to sex. George Galloway’s comments on what constitutes rape are deeply disappointing and wrong.” Mr Assange is wanted in Sweden to face allegations – which he denies – of sexual assault against two women and is holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

The full broadcast of Mr Galloway's podcast can be seen here; the controversial comments come 21 minutes in.