Lee Anderson has strongly criticised Green Party leader Zack Polanski for sharing a post on Instagram that included a T-shirt design featuring a guillotine alongside the lyrics “we’re only making plans for Nigel,” from the 1979 XTC song Making Plans for Nigel, a reference to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
The Reform UK MP for Ashfield described the post as “sick” and “unhinged” in a response on X (formerly Twitter). Anderson wrote: “So the rainbow cap stands for diversity and hope. And the T-shirt stands for the killing of Nigel. I dislike and disagree with the politics of many people but I respect their right to hold their views... But... This type of behaviour is that of unhinged individuals. Sick people with sick minds. I wonder if the person in the picture will get time?”
Polanski’s post and response
The post in question was a collection of pictures from a Green Party event on July 26. One image showed a man wearing a T-shirt bearing the XTC lyric alongside a drawing of a guillotine. The post was later removed from Polanski’s Instagram feed.
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. 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 spokesperson added: “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.”
Photographer claims responsibility
A photographer using the handle @just.barold claimed responsibility for the picture, stating it was “not (Polanski’s) fault” and that they would contact the police themselves. They said: “This wasn't intended to offend anyone and it's clearly not intended as a serious threat to anyone's safety whatsoever. This performative outrage is just that, and if people want to come and take it out on someone then take it out on the person who took the picture, and who then posted it.”
Reform UK has reported Polanski to the police and said it will also report him to the monitoring officer at the Greater London Assembly, where Polanski is an elected member.
Police investigation
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Earlier today, we received a third-party report relating to an image shared on social media. We take reports of this nature extremely seriously, and officers are conducting inquiries into the matter.”
Nigel Farage had earlier posted a screenshot of the Instagram picture on X, saying: “This is what Zack Polanski has just posted on his Instagram. If I was to post anything as inciteful then I would expect to be arrested, and so should Polanski.”
