google-site-verification: googlec7193c3de77668c9.html

Damages for Green Party deputy leader over Harehills disorder claims

A TV presenter and a social media commentator have apologised and will pay damages to the deputy leader of the Green Party after wrongly suggesting he participated in disorder.

Mothin Ali, a councillor on Leeds City Council, attended the 2024 Harehills unrest to assist police and appeal for calm, but posts on social media accused him of taking part in the trouble, the High Court heard.

Ali sued GB News presenter Alex Armstrong and social media commentator Bernadette Spofforth for defamation over posts on X. Both have apologised and agreed to pay “substantial damages”.

Speaking outside court, Ali said: “The harm is already done. The smears leave their stench, even when proven to be false.”

Trouble erupted in Harehills on the evening of 18 July 2024 after police helped social workers who were taking four children into emergency foster care.

Hundreds of people took to the streets, with a police car flipped over and a double-decker bus torched.

“I tried my absolute best to calm tensions, to protect police officers,” said Ali, who has been deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales since 2025.

“I stayed on the scene to calm rioters and to reassure residents while buses burned. I stayed there to limit the damage, to limit the harm to my community.

“For my service to my community, I was not only accused of rioting, but something I take even more seriously – my honesty was brought into question.”


BBC News

Advertisements

See also  Ian Hislop: No evidence London black cab was shot at

Check Also

Couple find love aged 88 in retirement village

Barbara Thompson, 88, and Fred Jenkins, 88, unexpectedly found love again after the death of …

Devon otter sanctuary volunteer ‘overjoyed’ to win award

Herniman was nominated for the award by the trust’s chief executive and founder Dave Webb …

Chimney sweep in Cornwall rescues owl trapped in stove

“I shone my torch in there and he started flapping,” said Stead, who works in …

Leave a Reply

Available for Amazon Prime