Rishi Sunak blasts under-fire Green councillor's 'completely unacceptable' ... trends now

Rishi Sunak has blasted an under-fire Green councillor for the 'completely unacceptable' claim that Hamas 'had a right to fight back' against Israel.

The Prime Minister said there is 'no place in our politics' for the comments made by Mothin Ali, who is also accused of helping force a rabbi and his family into hiding after targeting him with a string of slurs.

The father-of-three, who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is greatest') after he was elected to Leeds city council last week, has faced calls to be suspended by the Green Party, which is investigating his remarks.

Mr Ali has accused his critics of 'Islamophobia' and claimed his campaign had 'united people from all backgrounds, races and religions'.

But the row is threatening to continue, after the Prime Minister's official spokesman joined Jewish groups in criticising the 42-year-old local councillor.

Asked about Mr Ali's comments today, Mr Sunak's spokesman said: 'Clearly the comments from that individual are completely unacceptable and have no place in our politics.

'There can be no justification for the terrorist attacks that took place on 7 October.'

However, the pro-Gaza activist, whose local Green Party conclave is resisting calls for his suspension, has insisted he does not support violence. 

In a statement issued through Leeds Green Party, the accountant said: 'I am sorry for any upset my comments caused about the Gaza conflict.

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'That was not my intention.

'Like many across the world I have been deeply impacted by the dreadful conflict currently underway in Gaza. The International Court of Justice said this conflict meets the case for plausible genocide.

'I do not support violence on either side: violence leads to more violence and this is what I have tried to convey.

'I have consistently called for an immediate ceasefire and a release of all hostages.

'I hope to be working with a broad coalition including both the Jewish and Muslim Greens soon to discuss sensible ways for us to work on communicating our shared passion of bringing the conflict to an end.

'Being elected to represent the wonderful community of Gipton and Harehills was one of the proudest moments of my life.

'The inaccurate reporting and misrepresentation of my acceptance speech has led to me being subject to a lot of hate and hostility.

'I should also make clear that it is not unusual for somebody of my faith to use the words 'Allahu Akbar' as an expression of gratitude and celebration.

'Some have sought to misrepresent this and it suggests Islamophobia to me.

'I am not a career politician but I have campaigned for Gipton and Harehills for many years and have been consistently urged to speak up for these communities and on the issue of Palestine, which I will continue to do.

'My campaign united people from all backgrounds, races and religions in order to affect change for our local community.

'I will continue to work in peace to represent all of our communities in the coming four years.'

Sharing Mr Ali's statement, the Green Party nationally added: 'We are fully investigating all of the context around this and have nothing further to add at this moment.

'The Green Party's commitment to non-violence is absolute.'

Rejecting his apology, Alan Lamb, leader of the Conservative group on Leeds city council, told the Mail: 'This man's actions and antics have left Leeds and the city council in a dangerous place, and yet the Greens are completely ignoring it.

'They've known about his views for months but continued campaigning for him and even celebrated his election win over the weekend.

'When will he and the Green group address his abhorrent and anti-Semitic views, such as his comments immediately after the barbaric attacks in October or when he forced the university rabbi and his family into hiding?

'It's absolutely shameful and it doesn't reflect well on our great city.

'The Green group on the city council are bringing themselves into disrepute.'

The Greens last night faced fury over their failure to suspend the councillor who launched a hate-filled tirade against a rabbi.

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Mr Ali called Leeds University's Jewish chaplain, Zecharia Deutsch, a 'creep', a 'low-life' and an 'animal'.

The councillor had been allowed to stand for the Greens despite branding Israelis 'white supremacists' after the Hamas Palestinian terror group killed 1,200 people on October 7

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