Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader for England and Wales, has been accused of falsely claiming to be a spokesperson for the British Red Cross. The charity confirmed that Polanski has never held such a role and said it had raised the issue with the party.
Polanski's personal website in 2020 included the claim, stating he was 'really proud of the work we do'. In response, he posted on X examples of hosting fundraisers for the organisation, expressing admiration for its work with refugees and in conflict zones.
A Green Party spokesperson did not directly address the claims but instead criticised The Times for publishing what they described as an antisemitic cartoon of Polanski. The newspaper also alleged that Polanski was not a full member of the National Council of Hypnotherapy, despite claiming to be one.
Polanski's past as a hypnotherapist has drawn scrutiny, including a 2013 Sun article where he offered hypnosis to increase breast size. He has apologised, but a later BBC interview suggested he had tried the technique with others.
The controversies come as the Green Party hopes to make gains in local elections, but has faced issues including antisemitic comments by candidates. Former leader Caroline Lucas urged immediate action, while Labour called on Polanski to 'come clean with the public'.
