Respect MP George Galloway has branded an investigation into remarks he made declaring Bradford "an Israel-free zone" an "extremely expensive waste of police time" after it was announced he will not be prosecuted.

The comments, made by the Bradford West MP in August, caused an outcry on social media and complaints were made to West Yorkshire Police.

Today, the force said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) did not believe there was sufficient evidence to support charges but also said it had logged it as a "hate incident".

But Mr Galloway said he stood by his remarks and blamed an ultra-Zionist vendetta on him for prompting the police investigation.

Chief Superintendent Paul Money, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "West Yorkshire Police received a number of complaints about the content of a speech made by Bradford MP George Galloway on August 2 this year.

"A full investigation has been carried out, which included Mr Galloway being voluntarily interviewed under caution.

"A file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for advice on whether any offences had been committed and they have now concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support any charges.

"West Yorkshire Police always takes complaints of hate offences seriously and wants victims and witnesses to come forward with confidence knowing that any reported incidents will be thoroughly investigated.

"West Yorkshire Police has recorded this matter as a hate incident.

"A hate incident is any incident, which may or may not constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by prejudice or hate towards a person's disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity."

Mr Galloway said: "This has been an extremely expensive waste of police and CPS time forced on them by ultra-Zionists who were pursuing a vendetta against me.

"My comments were aimed at the state of Israel, which - I repeat what I said at the time - is an illegal, savage and barbarous state, and had nothing whatever to do with race or religion."

He added: "I take back not a word and I will continue to forcefully condemn Israel."

Mr Galloway said: "It remains the case that there is a worldwide boycott of Israel, its goods, its services, its academics.

"I hope the citizens of Bradford will join me in refusing to treat with the advocates of this hateful and oppressive regime and truly make Bradford an Israel-free zone."

In one part of his speech in August, which can be seen online, Mr Galloway said: "We have declared Bradford an Israel-free zone.

"We don't want any Israeli goods. We don't want any Israeli services. We don't want any Israeli academics coming to the university or college.

"We don't even want any Israeli tourists to come to Bradford even if any of them had thought of doing so.

"We reject this illegal, barbarous, savage state that calls itself Israel. And you have to do the same."

Mr Galloway was filmed in front of the Palestinian flag.