- Sir Keir Starmer has said "we’re all shocked" by the actions of Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali after he attended a rally protesting the US killing of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- Sir Keir said: “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, and it is important that all of us set our face against antisemitism. And I have to say, the argument that the Green Party makes that now is the time to get out of Nato and negotiate with Putin over our nuclear weapons is contrary to the British national interest.”
- Starmer’s comments were in response to Conservative former minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke, who said: “I was appalled, but I’m afraid, not shocked – I’m sure the Prime Minister was as well – to see, once again, the deputy leader of the Green Party at the weekend, protesting in support of the Ayatollah.
- “And I’m afraid that the Green Party has become a magnet for all of the people that he quite rightly kicked out of the Labour Party. And the hatred and the fear that runs through Leeds now being whipped up at times by councillor Mothin is a disgrace… My Jewish community are terrified going into Leeds at the weekend. May I ask the Prime Minister, will he ensure that he works closely with all policing authorities to ensure that my Jewish community and other communities can be safe?”
- Starmer later said to MPs that he was : “not prepared to commit our military service people to action unless I am sure that what they are doing is lawful and has a viable basis”.
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