Mothin Ali

{{Short description|British politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = File:MothinAli.jpg | caption = Ali in 2024 | office1 = Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales | alongside1 = Rachel Millward | term_start1 = 2 September 2025 | leader1 = Zack Polanski | predecessor1 = Zack Polanski | office2 = Leeds City Councillor<br>for Gipton and Harehills | term_start2 = 3 May 2024 | term_end2 = | predecessor2 = Arif Hussain | party = Green (since 2020) | other_party = Labour (2000–2020) | occupation = {{flatlist| * Politician * Islamic teacher * accountant}} | birth_name = Mothin Mohammed Ali | birth_place = Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|1|12|df=yes}} | education = Leeds Beckett University (BSc) | module = {{infobox youtuber | child = yes | youtube_handle = MyFamilyGarden | youtube_display_name = My Family Garden

| youtube_years_active = 2017–present | youtube_genre = | youtube_subscribers = 56,000 | youtube_views = 4.5 million | stats_update = 1 December 2025 }} }}

'''Mothin Mohammed Ali''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɔː|t|iː|n}} {{IPAc-en|ɑː|ˈ|l|iː}}; born 12 January 1982) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, alongside Rachel Millward, since September 2025. He has also served as a member of Leeds City Council for Gipton and Harehills since 2024.

==Early life== Ali was born on 12 January 1982<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Mothin |date=12 January 2022 |title=Came home to the biggest burger I've ever seen! I'm a happy boy,! |url=https://www.facebook.com/MothinAliMFG/posts/pfbid0hpKq9g1U9sFDq4t7sPKcyWU6HrSeuV6wDP424hjDbrJCnMU9Ub9bnkFCyimwRAFvl?__cft__[0]=AZYWl9qNdbxiK21Eios3dyRiL5SUDCx8QqKbk-3zkMdWLshDWyTDwoDYcsZ8EfJw25A2kTpTcnp6M7TvosfrPJiCsydaYvWmgbwWMxKsnmtTHvkgTMwsiYpqwjeied1ew6LlNE1WtGVz20-RAazx5UWqB1HA2Q4pKHhmF0DYDdKrkLlV8ABNFWNiVuKT76yKajA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |via=Facebook}}</ref> in Sheffield, South Yorkshire<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Is Mothin Ali? British Councillor Who Shouted 'Allahu Akbar' After Being Elected In Local Polls |url=https://www.news18.com/world/mothin-ali-british-councillor-green-party-who-shouted-allahu-akbar-after-being-elected-in-local-polls-8878969.html |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=16 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516093405/https://www.news18.com/world/mothin-ali-british-councillor-green-party-who-shouted-allahu-akbar-after-being-elected-in-local-polls-8878969.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6" />; he is of Bangladeshi descent.<ref name="Begum" /> His family moved to the UK in the 1960s,<ref name=":2" /> and his father worked as a unionised steelworker in Sheffield.<ref name=":6" />

In 2000, Ali moved to the Gipton and Harehills area of Leeds.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Gent|first=Craig |date=28 May 2024 |title=Are Green Shoots Starting to Crack the Red Wall?|url=https://novaramedia.com/2024/05/28/are-green-shoots-starting-to-crack-the-red-wall/|work=Novara Media|access-date=20 July 2024|archive-date=20 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720110651/https://novaramedia.com/2024/05/28/are-green-shoots-starting-to-crack-the-red-wall/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Politics== Ali joined the Labour Party at the age of eighteen, but left and joined the Green Party in 2020, following the beginning of Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party.<ref name=":6">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJi0DtoLx7c |title='I'm surprised more Labour MPs haven't left': Mothin Ali in conversation with Peter Oborne |date=2025-07-04 |last=Middle East Eye |access-date=2025-07-22 |via=YouTube |archive-date=15 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715085715/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJi0DtoLx7c&vl=en-GB |url-status=live }}</ref> He began campaigning for election as the Green Party candidate for the Gipton and Harehills ward of Leeds City Council in 2022;<ref name=":2" /> this was one of the UK's poorest areas, 40% of whose population was Muslim, with over 65% coming from minority ethnic groups.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Rimi |first=Aisha |date=7 August 2024 |title=Mothin Ali: 'Nothing could have prepared me for the hate I've received since my election' |url=https://hyphenonline.com/2024/08/07/mothin-ali-nothing-could-have-prepared-me-for-the-hate-ive-received-since-my-election-harehills-leeds-green-party-councillor/ |access-date=2 October 2024 |website=Hyphen |language=en-GB |archive-date=16 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916132340/https://hyphenonline.com/2024/08/07/mothin-ali-nothing-could-have-prepared-me-for-the-hate-ive-received-since-my-election-harehills-leeds-green-party-councillor/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ali was elected in the 2024 Leeds City Council election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=Sebastian |date=4 May 2024 |title=Leeds local election results 2024 as it happened |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-local-election-results-2024-29101353 |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=Leeds Live |language=en |archive-date=19 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919200737/https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-local-election-results-2024-29101353 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Connolly |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/politics/leeds-city-council-election-results-2024-in-full-as-count-confirms-who-has-been-elected-in-every-ward-4615852 |title=Leeds City Council election results 2024 in full as count confirms who has been elected in every ward |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828181903/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/politics/leeds-city-council-election-results-2024-in-full-as-count-confirms-who-has-been-elected-in-every-ward-4615852 |archive-date=2024-08-28 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=3 May 2024}}</ref> This result was interpreted by Ali and some other commentators as a sign of local voters' dissatisfaction with the Labour Party's stance on the Gaza war.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite news |first=Girish Kumar |last=Anshul |title=Dozens of pro-Palestine candidates elected as councillors in Britain |work=India Today Online |date=6 May 2024 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/uk-news/story/pro-gaza-palestine-councillors-local-election-uk-england-labour-muslim-vote-house-of-commons-hamas-terror-attack-us-2535837-2024-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/muslim-vote-group-issues-18-demands-to-starmer-lhx8zhdp5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251020221046/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/muslim-vote-group-issues-18-demands-to-starmer-lhx8zhdp5 |archive-date=2025-10-20 |url-access=subscription |title=Muslim Vote group issues 18 demands to Starmer |first=Fiona |last=Hamilton |date=6 May 2024 |newspaper=The Times |access-date=5 March 2026}}</ref> Ali described his local election victory a win for the people of Gaza amidst the Israeli invasion: "We will not be silenced. We will raise the voice of Gaza. We will raise the voice of Palestine." Following this, he shouted the Takbir, which means "God is the greatest" in Arabic.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=Rachel |date=7 May 2024 |title=Leeds: Green Party councillor Mothin Ali apologises for Gaza comments |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-68970097 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725222837/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-68970097 |archive-date=25 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Higgens |first=Dave |date=7 May 2024 |title=Green councillor in Leeds sorry for 'upset caused' in speech amid calls for suspension |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/green-councillor-in-leeds-sorry-for-upset-caused-in-speech-amid-calls-for-suspension-4618878 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507125752/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/green-councillor-in-leeds-sorry-for-upset-caused-in-speech-amid-calls-for-suspension-4618878 |archive-date=7 May 2024 |access-date=18 September 2024 |work=Yorkshire Post}}</ref><ref name="bbcnews1">{{cite web |author-last=Russell |author-first=Rachel |date=7 May 2024 |title=Leeds: Green Party councillor Mothin Ali apologises for Gaza comments |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-68970097 |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725170307/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-68970097 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was investigated for the comments made in his victory speech.<ref name="bbcnews1" /> He added that he hoped to work jointly with Jewish Greens and Muslim Greens to discuss how to promote an end to the Gaza War.<ref name="bbcnews1" /> As a member of the Greens For Palestine group, Ali supported a change to Green Party policy to label the Israeli government's conduct in the Gaza war as apartheid and genocide and to support the associated boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Ali made a prominent speech promoting this policy at the Green Party's annual conference in September 2024, and the party accepted the proposed policy change.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK: Green Party 'makes history' by declaring Israel's war in Gaza a 'genocide' |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-green-party-makes-history-declaring-genocide-gaza |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en |archive-date=19 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919200739/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-green-party-makes-history-declaring-genocide-gaza |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harpin |first=Lee |date=9 September 2024 |title=Greens pass Israel 'genocide' motion at annual conference backed by hardline councillor |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/greens-pass-israel-genocide-motion-at-annual-conference-backed-by-hardline-councillor/ |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=Jewish News |language=en-US |archive-date=19 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919200739/https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/greens-pass-israel-genocide-motion-at-annual-conference-backed-by-hardline-councillor/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Rob |date=20 September 2024 |title='Help me fight the far-right': Muslim councillor prepares legal retribution for Islamophobes |url=https://5pillarsuk.com/2024/09/20/help-me-fight-the-far-right-muslim-councillor-prepares-legal-retribution-for-islamophobes/ |access-date=21 September 2024 |website=5Pillars |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920150853/https://5pillarsuk.com/2024/09/20/help-me-fight-the-far-right-muslim-councillor-prepares-legal-retribution-for-islamophobes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ali is an anti-racism campaigner. He started the ''DigItOut'' campaign, which aims to end racism in horticulture.<ref>{{cite web |title=#Dig It Out – Championing Equality & Diversity |url=https://digitoutcampaign.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412135852/https://digitoutcampaign.com/ |archive-date=12 April 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref><ref name="Begum">{{Cite news |last=Begum |first=Thaslima |date=25 November 2022 |title=Generation game: how British Bangladeshi gardeners have gone back to their roots |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/nov/25/how-british-bangladeshi-gardeners-have-gone-back-to-their-roots |access-date=24 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite episode |date=13 July 2022 |series=Blossom Trees and Burnt Out Cars |title=1. Locked out of Nature |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cl4tsz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714161827/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cl4tsz |archive-date=14 July 2022 |access-date=24 July 2024 |publisher=BBC Sounds |language=en-GB}}</ref> This was a response to his own experiences of racism in the gardening world, including abuse he received on his YouTube channel, which worsened after the publication in 2021 of the findings of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Emma |date=2 April 2021 |title='Racism is alive and well' – black communities in Leeds slam government report into race disparity |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/racism-is-alive-and-well-black-communities-in-leeds-slam-government-report-into-race-disparity-3187235 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |publisher=Yorkshire Post Newspapers}}</ref> He is a long-standing critic of the UK government's Prevent counter-terrorism strategy, arguing that it embeds Islamophobia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2016 |title=Leeds Community Leaders Call On Leeds City Council To Stand Up To Islamophobia |url=https://www.sunriseradio.fm/news/local-news/leeds-community-leaders-call-on-leeds-city-council-to-stand-up-to-islamophobia/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918144349/https://www.sunriseradio.fm/news/local-news/leeds-community-leaders-call-on-leeds-city-council-to-stand-up-to-islamophobia/ |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=Sunrise Radio |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> In the wake of the 2024 United Kingdom riots, Ali criticised the racism of their perpetrators while also criticising what he saw as growing media and government encouragement of racist attitudes, and particularly Islamophobia, in the UK.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |first=Mothin |last=Ali |url=https://m.independent.ie/world-news/britain/muslims-are-a-visible-minority-and-were-generally-working-class-so-we-make-an-easy-target/a151349701.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822194637/https://m.independent.ie/world-news/britain/muslims-are-a-visible-minority-and-were-generally-working-class-so-we-make-an-easy-target/a151349701.html |archive-date=2024-08-22 |title='Muslims are a visible minority and we’re generally working class, so we make an easy target' |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=8 August 2024}}</ref> As of 2024, he was campaigning to make Leeds what he called a "city of belonging", modelled on the concept of a City of Sanctuary.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

During his campaign for the 2025 Green Party of England and Wales deputy leadership election, Ali came under criticism from other Greens members for a perceived lack of support for LGBTQ issues. Ali was the only candidate not to sign a pro-LGBTQ pledge, stating that he chose not to sign any pledges from any special interest groups. Ali in an interview declined to state whether he believed that trans women are women, but has also stated that Muslims and LGBTQ people should "come together" as minority communities targeted by the far-right.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rimi |first1=Aishi |title=Mothin Ali elected co-deputy leader of the Green party |url=https://hyphenonline.com/2025/09/02/mothin-ali-elected-green-party-co-deputy-leader/ |website=Hyphen |date=2 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Helen |title=The Gaza Left and the Gender Left |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/09/uk-your-party-corbyn-sultana/684343/ |website=The Atlantic |date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="newstatesman1"/>

Shortly after his election, Ali sought to overturn a Leeds City Council policy to close a number of council-run nurseries;<ref>{{cite news |first=Don |last=Mort |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/council/little-owls-leeds-yorkshire-nurseries-to-close-despite-outcry-from-parents-4698388 |title=Little Owls Leeds: Yorkshire nurseries to close despite outcry from parents |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918092732/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/council/little-owls-leeds-yorkshire-nurseries-to-close-despite-outcry-from-parents-4698388 |archive-date=2024-09-18 |newspaper=Yorkshire Post |date=10 July 2024}}</ref> the following year saw him campaigning for improved consultation regarding changes to road layouts in his ward.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 May 2025 |title=Residents 'up in arms' over Leeds junction proposals as over 500 sign petition |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/travel/travel-news/a58-roundhay-road-over-500-leeds-residents-sign-petition-5109379 |access-date=5 May 2025 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |language=en |archive-date=2 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502082854/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/travel/travel-news/a58-roundhay-road-over-500-leeds-residents-sign-petition-5109379 |url-status=live }}</ref>

For the 2024 West Yorkshire mayoral election, Ali was also nominated by his party to be the Green Party's pick to be deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire in the event that the Green Party won. However, the Greens came third.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hub |first=Huddersfield |date=18 March 2024 |title=Huddersfield councillor chosen as Green Party candidate for West Yorkshire mayoral elections |url=https://huddersfieldhub.co.uk/huddersfield-councillor-chosen-as-green-party-candidate-for-west-yorkshire-mayoral-elections/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918071616/https://huddersfieldhub.co.uk/huddersfield-councillor-chosen-as-green-party-candidate-for-west-yorkshire-mayoral-elections/ |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=Huddersfield Hub |language=en-GB}}</ref> In June 2025, Ali announced he was standing to be deputy leader of the Green Party in the upcoming election; he was elected in September that year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-02 |title=Leeds councillor elected deputy leader of Green Party vows to take on the far-right |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/politics/mothin-ali-leeds-councillor-elected-deputy-leader-5299251 |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref>

=== Gaza === After the October 7 attacks, Ali had said that people should "support the right of indigenous people to fight back" and said that "they are not victims, they are occupiers, they are colonialists, they are European colonialists". The Green Party stated that it would investigate Ali's comments.<ref name="bbcnews1"/> Ali was condemned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.<ref name="bbcnews1" /> Ali apologised for any upset his comments caused and said that he does not support violence on either side, saying it would only lead to further violence.<ref name="bbcnews1" /> He added that he hoped to work with both the Jewish and Muslim Greens to discuss how to promote an end to the Gaza War.<ref name="bbcnews1" /> In later interviews, he noted that he had experienced extensive harassment following media coverage of the incident,<ref name=":0" /> including the puncturing of his car tyres,<ref name=":5" /> and ''5Pillars'' reported that he had required police protection.<ref name=":4" />

===Harehills riot=== During the 2024 Harehills riot, Ali formed what some press reports called "a human shield" to stop violence escalating and appealed for calm.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Barney |date=19 July 2024 |title=The hero councillor who formed a human shield to stop violence escalating in Leeds riots |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/leeds-riots-harehills-violent-disorder-police-b2582539.html |work=The Independent |access-date=20 July 2024 |archive-date=20 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720010908/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/leeds-riots-harehills-violent-disorder-police-b2582539.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vinter |first=Robyn |date=19 July 2024 |title='We're in it together': how unrest in Leeds escalated – and was defused |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/19/how-unrest-in-leeds-escalated-and-was-defused-harehills |access-date=18 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=19 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919200738/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/19/how-unrest-in-leeds-escalated-and-was-defused-harehills |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 October 2024 |title=Harehills disorder: 'We saw the worst and best of people' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgl8ldd820o |access-date=2 October 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002013830/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgl8ldd820o |url-status=live }}</ref> Ali was erroneously accused of taking part in the unrest by some far-right political commentators,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Vinter |first=Robyn |date=23 July 2024 |title='This is what a councillor is supposed to do': Mothin Ali on false accusations of rioting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/23/mothin-ali-riots-leeds-green-party-councillor-gipton-and-harehills |access-date=18 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=19 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919200739/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/23/mothin-ali-riots-leeds-green-party-councillor-gipton-and-harehills |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> and as of September 2024 was raising money to take legal action against his alleged libellors.<ref name=":4" /> The Muslim Council of Britain commended Ali for his "bravery and service" during the unrest.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Mulla |first=Imran |date=19 July 2024 |title=UK: Far right blames Muslims and 'third world' migrants for Leeds unrest |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-how-myth-muslims-were-behind-leeds-disorder-went-viral |work=Middle East Eye |access-date=20 July 2024 |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725222838/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-how-myth-muslims-were-behind-leeds-disorder-went-viral |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the unrest, Ali organised community meetings, particularly developing his contacts with the local Roma community.<ref name="newstatesman1">{{Cite web |last=Jeraj |first=Samir |date=2025-08-13 |title=Mothin Ali: 'There's a lot of racism on the left' |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/08/mothin-ali-interview-theres-a-lot-of-racism-on-the-left |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US |archive-date=29 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129134912/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/08/mothin-ali-interview-theres-a-lot-of-racism-on-the-left |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Electoral performance === ==== May 2024 ==== {{Election box begin|title=2024 Leeds City Council election, Gipton and Harehills}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Mothin Ali|votes=3,070|percentage=51.6|change=+20.4}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Arif Hussain*|votes=2,323|percentage=39.0|change=-16.9}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Liam Roberts|votes=285|percentage=4.8|change=-2.1}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Thomas Race|votes=156|percentage=2.6|change=-0.7}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition|candidate=Iain Dalton|votes=120|percentage=2.0|change=-0.5|}} {{Election box majority|votes=747|percentage=12.6|change=-12.0}} {{Election box turnout|votes=5,954|percentage=33.1|change=+6.6}} {{Election box gain with party link|winner=Green Party of England and Wales|loser=Labour Party (UK)|swing=+18.7}} {{Election box end}}

==== May 2023 ==== {{Election box begin|title=2023 Leeds City Council election, Gipton and Harehills}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link||party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Asghar Ali|votes=2,655|percentage=55.9|change=-4.6}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Mothin Ali|votes=1,484|percentage=31.2|change=+8.9|}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Robert Harris|votes=310|percentage=6.9|change=-3.2|}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Mark Twitchett|votes=156|percentage=3.3|change=-1.3|}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition|candidate=Iain Dalton|votes=121|percentage=2.5|change=+0.7|}} {{Election box majority|votes=1,171|percentage=24.6|change=-13.7}} {{Election box turnout|votes=4,751|percentage=26.5|change=+1.2}} {{Election box hold with party link||winner=Labour Party (UK)|swing=}} {{Election box end}}

==== May 2022 ==== {{Election box begin|title=2022 Leeds City Council election, Gipton and Harehills}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link||party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Salma Arif*|votes=2,722|percentage=60.5|change=-12.9}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Mothin Ali|votes=1,001|percentage=22.3|change=+16.2|}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Robert Harris|votes=454|percentage=10.1|change=-1.6|}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Aqila Choudhry|votes=206|percentage=4.6|change=+0.5|}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition|candidate=Tanis Belsham-Wray|votes=82|percentage=1.8|change=-0.8|}} {{Election box majority|votes=1,721|percentage=38.3|change=-23.3}} {{Election box turnout|votes=4,498|percentage=25.3|change=-4.6}} {{Election box hold with party link||winner=Labour Party (UK)|swing=}} {{Election box end}}

==Personal life== Ali is a Muslim.<ref>{{cite web |last= Carter |first= Rob |date= 5 June 2025 |title= Pro-Gaza Muslim councillor declares bid for Green Party deputy leadership |url= https://5pillarsuk.com/2025/06/05/pro-gaza-muslim-councillor-declares-bid-for-green-party-deputy-leader-job/ |website= 5Pillars |access-date= 6 July 2025 |archive-date= 6 July 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250706022218/https://5pillarsuk.com/2025/06/05/pro-gaza-muslim-councillor-declares-bid-for-green-party-deputy-leader-job/ |url-status= live }}</ref> As of 2022, he works as an accountant during the day and teaches Islamic studies in the evenings.<ref name=healey />

===Horticulture=== Ali has a YouTube channel, "My Family Garden", which in 2022 had 35,000 subscribers and 50,000 in 2024, where he documents his gardening.<ref name="healey">{{Cite news |last=Healey |first=Shawna |date=11 January 2022 |title=Popular Leeds gardener speaks on raising his kids outdoors and racism in the horticulture community |url=https://www.asianstandard.co.uk/popular-leeds-gardener-speaks-on-raising-his-kids-outdoors-and-racism-in-the-horticulture-community/ |work=Asian Standard |access-date=20 July 2024 |archive-date=27 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627145604/https://www.asianstandard.co.uk/popular-leeds-gardener-speaks-on-raising-his-kids-outdoors-and-racism-in-the-horticulture-community/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In 2022, he was featured on the BBC programmes ''Marcus Wareing's Tales from a Kitchen Garden''<ref>Dominic Penna, "Green Party councillor who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ after election says critics are Islamophobic", ''The Telegraph'' (7 May 2024).</ref> and ''Blossom Trees and Burnt Out Cars'';<ref name=":7" /> in the same year he began craft production of achar made from home-grown ingredients.<ref name="healey" />

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{cite web|title=Councillor details - Councillor Mothin Ali|url=https://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=9648 |website=democracy.leeds.gov.uk|publisher=Leeds City Council|language=en}} * [https://www.mothinali.com/ Personal website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20240520131552/https://myfamilygarden.co.uk/ MyFamilyGarden]

{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Zack Polanski}} {{s-ttl|title=Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales|years=2025–present|with=Rachel Millward}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{GPEW}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Mothin}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:English Muslims Category:Councillors in Leeds Category:Green Party of England and Wales councillors Category:Deputy Leaders of the Green Party of England and Wales Category:English people of Bangladeshi descent Category:Politicians from Sheffield Category:English activists for Palestinian solidarity Category:English YouTubers Category:British gardeners