Mothin Ali: “There’s a lot of racism on the left”

The Green Party councillor on running for the deputy leadership, riots, Islam and race in Britain.

The New Statesman – Samir Jeraj, 13 August 2025

“Just as the racists exist on the right, they exist on the left — and that’s a conversation that’s very rarely had,” says Mothin Ali.

The unapologetic Muslim and Green Party councillor in Leeds reveals how polite prejudice can persist within left-wing circles, masked by niceness but no less damaging.

Early in his term, Ali faced criticism and far-right disinformation after declaring “Allahu Akbar” in his victory speech — a moment that foreshadowed how even expressions of faith can become politically charged. Yet, his focus remains on urgent issues like housing, exemplified by his encounter with a family of five squeezed into a two-bedroom home, and his push to forge stronger grassroots-to-national connections for a more inclusive Green movement.

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