Green Party deputy leader branded 'uninformed' after saying fewer people should be referred to Government's anti-terror scheme

By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 00:32, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 00:42, 8 August 2026 The Green Party deputy leader who said Palestinians have a right to 'fight back' on October 7 has called for fewer people to be referred to the Government's anti-extremism scheme. Mothin Ali said that Prevent 'sweeps too many innocent people into the security state' after figures showed a record number of referrals to the flagship counter-terror programme. Last night a former Prevent counter terror officer slammed the Green co-deputy leader's 'uninformed' comments and warned they will 'hinder national security efforts'. A Reform UK spokesman said: 'Prevent is already unfit for purpose, opting to prioritise the "far-right" over Islamic extremism which poses a real and immediate danger to our national security.  'The fact Mothin Ali has still yet to be referred to Prevent for his extremist comments is evidence of that. 'It's no wonder he wants to scale back this programme in case it actually starts doing its job.' Former Prevent officer Ghaffar Hussain said that 'by definition' the scheme is designed to 'support those who are innocent yet at risk of being susceptible to extremist influence'. He added: 'Security is not just about dealing with criminals, it is also about going upstream and putting in place interventions that prevent criminality. These types of uninformed comments only hinder national security efforts.' Mothin Ali, Deputy Leader of the Green Party, is interviewed on the first day of the Green Party Conference in 2025 Rachel Millward, Zack Polanski and Mothin Ali arrive for the Green Party Conference at Bournemouth International Centre in October 2025 Mr Ali - who apologised after saying that Palestinians have a right to 'fight back' after the Hamas terror attacks on October 7 - acknowledged that violent extremism is a 'real threat'. But the Green councillor for Leeds, 44, said that 'dragging more and more children into a counter-terrorism programme is not the solution'. 'British Muslims have long warned that Prevent is heavy-handed, undermines trust and sweeps too many innocent people into the security state,' he added. Mr Ali - who also caused controversy when he shouted 'Allahu Akbar' after being elected and has described Gaza as 'the world's biggest concentration camp' - said 'counter-terrorism resources should be focused on genuine terrorist threats'. He suggested that Prevent resources could instead be diverted to teaching, youth work, social work and mental health support. Mr Ali added: 'We can't defeat hate and radicalisation by treating vulnerable children as security threats and making entire communities fear the state. 'Approaches that stigmatise communities and erode trust risk deepening the alienation that extremists seek to exploit.' His comments came after new Home Office figures this week showed that a record 10,293 referrals were made to Prevent for 9,957 people in the year to September. The scheme saw referrals rise 39 per cent from 7,408 in the previous 12 months. This is the highest number of referrals in a single year since records began in 2015. Of the total referrals, just 860 (8 per cent) related to concerns of Islamist extremism, while there were more than 2,100 (20 per cent) over suspected 'Right-wing extremism'. It comes more than two years after a highly critical official report accused Prevent of applying a 'double standard' regarding Islamism. The review found the role of Islamist ideology had been 'misinterpreted, misunderstood, or even overlooked' by officials, who prioritised countering far-Right activity above tackling Islamism.