Green Party leader Zack Polanski has been criticised over an Instagram post that showed a man wearing a black T-shirt with the message “We’re only making plans for Nigel” and an image of a guillotine. The picture was later removed from his account.
Reform UK reported the post to the police, with home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf accusing Polanski of “inciting murder”. Nigel Farage called for his arrest, and economic spokesman Robert Jenrick told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the image was “sick” and showed Polanski “isn’t fit to lead a national political party”.
Minister Advises Caution
On Tuesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said there is “a duty on all politicians to be careful about what they post”, especially in light of the killing of former MP Ann Widdecombe earlier this month. He told Sky News that people could “make mistakes” and it is for the police to decide if any action was needed. He added: “It’s not the first time Zack Polanski has done something like this.”
Police Inquiries Underway
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force was “conducting inquiries” and took “reports of this nature extremely seriously”.
Green Party’s Explanation
A Green Party spokesperson said: “Zack condemns the image on the T-shirt. He was tagged in a post with 20 images and clicked accept without realising there was more to it than he had seen. The T-shirt is clearly in poor taste, especially at a time of heightened fears for the security of public figures having experienced multiple threats himself. He and the Green Party call on everyone involved in public discourse to show kindness and not encourage more division.”
Previous Social Media Controversy
Polanski has previously been criticised over his use of social media. In May, he apologised for sharing a post criticising the police response to the Golders Green stabbings, saying he had done so “in haste”.
