Responding to the news that Labour plan to close the Bibby Stockholm, Green Party Refugee and Migration Spokesperson, Benali Hamdache, said,

“Today’s announcement to close the Bibby Stokholm is very welcome.

“The conditions there are as cruel as they are ineffective.

“It’s entirely inappropriate for people to be held in such vile conditions.

“Seeking asylum is a right that the UK should ensure is undertaken with dignity and appropriate levels of support.

“I congratulate Labour for making this move in their first weeks of administration.

“If Labour now accept the need to close the Bibby Stokholm, we hope they now also take a long hard look at other detention centres like Yarl’s Wood that inspectors have deemed “no longer safe” let alone desirable.”

Responding to the news that President Biden is stepping down and will not run in November’s Presidential elections, Green Party Co-Leader, Carla Denyer, said,

“We wish President Biden well and thank him for his many years of public service.

“This cannot have been an easy decision for him.

“But to take a decision that is personally difficult, but that is in the public interest, is a true sign of leadership.”

She continued, “The foundations of our democracy are under threat and this Presidential election is a pivotal moment.

“All elected representatives must be able to undertake their democratic duties without facing the threats of violence. 

“Equally, showing respect for democratic results is perhaps the most fundamental cornerstone of our democratic foundations. 

“All leaders must now not just abide by our democratic principles but cherish and protect them at every turn.

“It is abundantly clear that President Trump has no interest in this grave responsibility.

“My hope is that the Democratic Party can find a suitable candidate that can take on this responsibility.

“It’s not hyperbole to say that the future of democracy relies on it.”

A Green Party spokesperson said: “We’d like to pay tribute to the brilliant work done by our councillor for Gipton and Harehills ward, Mothin Ali, in bringing calm and unity after the unrest on Thursday night. Mothin risked putting himself in harm’s way to keep the peace and worked tirelessly throughout the night to reduce tension and support the police officers that were at the scene. His courage and conviction are a shining example of the work councillors across the country do for their local communities despite having little investment in support. It’s a stark contrast to the online smears that were directed at him by those who seek only to divide communities and exploit tension and division for their own gain.”

Green Party councillor Mothin Ali responded to Nigel Farage’s claim that the disorder in Harehills in Leeds on Thursday was the ‘politics of the sub-continent’ saying:

“Farage is in America commenting about a community he knows nothing about.

“As he has done time and time again he seeks to use tensions to further societal division for his own political gain.

“I ask him politely, to leave us alone as we undertake the work needed to bring our community back together.

“Nigel, use your voice to bring the country together, spread the idea of unity and we’ll all be the better for it, instead of trying to divide it”