GB News presenter to pay damages to deputy Green Party leader over social media posts

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in A Green Party deputy leader has accepted damages from a GB News presenter and a social media commentator over false social media claims that he joined a riot. Mothin Ali, who sits on Leeds City Council , went to the 2024 Harehills riots to help police and call for calm, the High Court heard on Friday. Posts on social media instead alleged that he took part in the rioting. Mr Ali sued GB News presenter Alex Armstrong and social media commentator Bernadette Spofforth for defamation over the posts on X. Both have now apologised and have agreed to pay “substantial damages”. open image in gallery Mr Ali has been deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales since 2025 (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Samantha Thompson, representing Mr Armstrong and Ms Spofforth, told the High Court in London on Friday that the pair “apologise to the claimant for the serious harm to his reputation and his distress”. Separately, police are investigating threats made against the Green Party’s deputy leader following claims he attended a rally in support of the Iranian regime . Leeds councillor Mothin Ali has demanded an apology from Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke after it was claimed in parliament that he had supported a pro-Iranian government rally. He told the BBC he had received a number of death threats on social media as a result of the accusations. West Yorkshire Police said they have received reports of “threatening messages received on social media” and are now conducting enquiries into the matter. Speaking in the Commons, Wetherby and Easingwold MP Sir Alec said he was “appalled” to see “the deputy leader of the Green Party once again protesting in support of the ayatollah”. To which Sir Keir replied: “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.” Mr Ali called out the statement on social media afterwards, writing: “Your statement today was a defamatory lie @AlecShelbrooke. I am proudly anti-war and anti-racist. I make no apologies for attending a Stop the War protest. “That does not mean I support the Iranian regime. I dare you to repeat your lies outside of parliament.” Mr Ali has been deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales since 2025.