Working-Class Leadership, Belonging, and the Greens’ Future

Green Chai Chats with Cllr Mothin Ali

In this Green Chai conversation, Cllr Mothin Ali opens up about his childhood and the racism he endured, charting the path from a “paper candidate” to an elected councillor with over 1,200 votes in Gipton & Harehills. He reflects on organising locally, handling misinformation and hostility, and the game-changing role of volunteer Claire—whose overnight mobilisation helped turn a campaign into a community movement. Answering tough, practical questions, Mothin explains why he’s standing for Deputy Leader: to centre everyday concerns—housing, safety, dignity—within a Green vision of belonging and accountability that reaches beyond the usual base, rooted in the values and lived experience that shape his politics.