Mothin Ali, the deputy leader of the Green Party, was pictured attending a rally backing the Iranian regime amid joint US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.
The protest took place in London on Saturday, the same evening others in the capital took to the streets to mark the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Mr Mothin’s attendance at the rowdy demonstration drew condemnation from across the political landscape, with Keir Starmer telling the Commons the move had “shocked us all”.
Wetherby & Easingwold MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke said: “I was appalled, but I’m afraid, not shocked” at the Leeds City councillor’s presence.”
Speaking in Parliament, he asked if the Prime Minister shared his reaction to the “deputy leader of the Green Party at the weekend protesting in support of the Ayatollah”.
Sir Alec added: “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.
“The hatred and the fear that runs through Leeds now, being whipped up at times by Councillor Mothin, is a disgrace,” he slammed.
Responding, the Prime Minister said: “I think we’re all shocked by the actions of the deputy leader of the Green Party.”
Green Party Deputy Leader Mothin Ali, left, attended a pro-Iranian regime protest on Saturday
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He added he was “not surprised given their recent turn of direction”.
“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.”
Later in the chamber, Green MP Ellie Chowns defended Mr Ali’s presence at the demonstration, accusing Sir Alec of “attacking the reputation” of her colleague.
“(Mothin) Ali attended a CND stop the war anti-war protest in support of his principles of being anti-war and pro democracy and diplomacy,” she insisted.
‘I think we’re all shocked by the actions of the deputy leader of the Green Party,’ the Prime Minister said of his presence at the rally
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Ms Chowns clarified that the Green Party regarded the actions of the US and Israeli governments against Iran as an “illegal war” that was “not making the world a safer place”.
Later, former security minister Tom Tugendhat responded sharply to Mr Ali’s presence at the rally, accusing the Greens of aligning themselves “with those who murder young Iranians seeking a better life and freedom”.
Footage from Saturday’s protest showed crowds waving flags in support of the Iranian regime and chanting “Death to America” and “Khamenei, you make us proud”.
An American flag was stamped on and set alight, as was the lion and sun banner associated with Iranian opposition movements.
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Placards accused the US and Israel of “terrorism” and urged demonstrators to “choose the right side of history”.
Among the organisers listed for the march was the Islamic Human Rights Commission, described in William Shawcross’s 2023 review of the Prevent programme as “an Islamist group ideologically aligned with the Iranian regime”.
In a statement following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the group praised him as “a rare role model” who had “resisted oppression and stood on the right side of history”,.
GB News has approached Mr Ali and the Green Party for comment.