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 to the Times that Polanski “has not been a spokesperson” and said it had raised the issue with the Greens.
The claim appeared on Polanski’s personal website in 2020, where he wrote that he was “really proud of the work we do”. He also posted on X about hosting fundraisers for the organisation. The British Red Cross stated that Polanski has never held a spokesperson role.
A Green Party spokesperson did not directly address the allegations but instead criticised the Times for publishing an antisemitic cartoon of Polanski over the weekend, calling the latest story a “bottom of the barrel” piece. The Times also reported that Polanski was not a full member of the National Council of Hypnotherapy, despite claiming to be.
Polanski’s past as a hypnotherapist has drawn scrutiny, particularly after a 2013 Sun article featured him offering hypnosis to increase a woman’s breast size. He has apologised for the episode, but a later BBC interview revealed he described it as a “successful project” and indicated he had tried the technique with others.
The Green Party is hoping to make gains in the upcoming elections, but the campaign has been marred by controversies, including antisemitic comments from candidates. Former leader Caroline Lucas urged immediate action against such candidates, stating there is “no place for antisemitism” in the party.
