Reform UK has reported Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski to the police after he shared an image of a man wearing a guillotine t-shirt with the words 'making plans for Nigel'. The party called the post 'incitement to murder'.
Nigel Farage reacted with fury after Polanski posted the picture to his 713,000 Instagram followers on Sunday. The image shows a man in a colourful hat and a t-shirt reading 'We're only making plans for Nigel' – an apparent reference to an XTC song. The t-shirt also features a guillotine but does not explicitly name or show Farage.
Farage Responds to Post
The post was quickly deleted, but not before Farage took a screenshot and commented: 'This is what Zack Polanski has just posted on his Instagram. If I were to post anything as inciteful then I would expect to be arrested, and so should Polanski.'
The £20 t-shirt is made in Manchester and described by the manufacturer as 'sweatshop-free and 100 per cent cotton'. An online advert for the shirt says: 'Who could Nigel be? And why the guillotine? Whether it's a nod to the XTC classic or a sharper bit of political satire, this design is for those who prefer their statements with a side of mystery.'
Reform UK Report to Police
It is understood Reform UK are reporting Polanski to the police over the post. The party's home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, said in a video 'this is incitement to murder'.
A Green Party spokesperson said: 'Once this image was brought to [Zack's] attention he immediately unshared the post. He unequivocally does not support this type of dangerous message.'
Political Context
The controversy comes as Nigel Farage's popularity has plummeted in recent weeks with the rise of Andy Burnham, who has announced a host of policies to ease the cost of living crisis. A YouGov poll found Labour up six points from its low of 16% recorded in May, while Reform UK's figure is the lowest since March 2025.
Farage also faces an unexpected threat from Count Binface, after the under-pressure party leader resigned as an MP to rerun in a by-election. All major parties declined to participate, calling it a 'stunt' and 'vanity project', leaving Farage with 33 opponents – a record for a UK parliamentary election – mostly fringe or comedy figures. Count Binface has captured public imagination, with Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves among those enjoying the idea of Farage spending his summer 'arguing with a bin'.
