Organisers of a meeting due to be addressed by controversial MP George Galloway are making a last-ditch effort to find a new venue, after Oxford City Council said it did not have space at the town hall.

Between 400 and 500 people are expected to turn up to hear Mr Galloway speak, if a venue can be found.

The outspoken anti-war MP has been suspended from the Labour Party over allegations he took money from Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein.

Two Oxford councillors -- Rick Muir and Dan Paskins -- have written an open letter to the Oxford Mail accepting full responsibility for the misunderstanding, which has left the meeting's organisers struggling against the clock to find a suitable venue.

Mr Galloway was due to talk at an anti-war meeting at the town hall at 7pm tomorrow, organised by Oxford Students Stop The War, but the town hall said it did not have a big enough room available for the number of people expected, as the main hall was already booked.

The council said there was no question of bias against Mr Galloway. The students are attempting to book the Oxford Union instead.

Mr Muir, who is a member of Oxford Labour Against The War, said: "I'm hopeful we can get something, but we're obviously limited by time. I was against the war and I think a lot of people in Oxford were, and they would be keen to hear what Mr Galloway has to say."

David Clark, the town hall manager, said: "Once we heard about the numbers they were talking about, I had to tell them with the best will in the world we couldn't take those numbers. It had nothing to do with who was talking."