Green Party deputy wins damages over false riot claims

Mothin Ali, the deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, has received "substantial damages" and an apology from a TV presenter and a social media commentator who wrongly suggested he took part in disorder in Leeds. The High Court heard that Ali, a councillor on Leeds City Council, attended the 2024 Harehills unrest to assist police and appeal for calm, but posts on X accused him of joining the trouble.

Defamation Settlement

Ali sued GB News presenter Alex Armstrong and social media commentator Bernadette Spofforth for defamation. Both defendants have apologized and agreed to pay damages. Samantha Thompson, representing Armstrong and Spofforth, told the High Court that the pair "apologise to the claimant for the serious harm to his reputation and his distress".

Speaking outside the court, Ali stated: "The harm is already done. The smears leave their stench, even when proven to be false." He described how he attempted to "calm tensions, to protect police officers" and "reassure residents while buses burned." Ali said that as a result of the negative coverage, he was "harassed for days and weeks" and his family "lived in fear," adding that his car was also damaged.

Context of the Harehills Unrest

The disorder in Harehills erupted on the evening of 18 July 2024 after police helped social workers taking four children into emergency foster care. Hundreds of people took to the streets, during which a police car was flipped over and a double-decker bus was torched. Ali, who has been deputy leader of the Green Party since 2025, said his honesty was brought into question despite his efforts to limit harm to his community.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski praised Ali, calling him a "hero" for his actions on the night. "He did exactly what an excellent councillor would do, working to calm down and heal division, and was praised across party lines at the time for doing so," Polanski said.

Separate Parliamentary Dispute

Separately, police are investigating threats made against Ali following unrelated claims that he attended a rally in support of the Iranian regime. West Yorkshire Police confirmed they received reports of "threatening messages received on social media" and are conducting enquiries.

The controversy arose after Conservative MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke stated in the House of Commons that he was "appalled" to see "the deputy leader of the Green Party once again protesting in support of the ayatollah." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded, "I think we’re all shocked by the actions of deputy leader of the Green Party, perhaps not surprised, given their recent turn of direction."

Ali denied the claims on social media, writing: "Your statement today was a defamatory lie @AlecShelbrooke. I am proudly anti-war and anti-racist. I make no apologies for attending a Stop the War protest." He added, "That does not mean I support the Iranian regime. I dare you to repeat your lies outside of parliament."

Why it matters

This case highlights the legal consequences for public figures who spread unverified accusations on social media. It also underscores the heightened scrutiny and abuse faced by politicians of colour, a point Ali emphasized by noting that "Black and brown public figures not only do not always get the recognition deserved and more than earned, but they get a level of scrutiny and smears far greater than their fairer counterparts."

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Sources

• bbc.com: Damages for Green Party deputy leader over Harehills disorder claims
• the-independent.com: GB News presenter to pay damages to deputy Green Party leader over social media posts | The Independent
• thenational.scot: Green deputy hails victory against GB News pundit in riot smear row | The National

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.