Green Party leader Zack Polanski has faced sharp criticism after retweeting an image depicting a guillotine with the slogan “We’re only making plans for Nigel,” widely interpreted as a call for harm against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The post came just weeks after the fatal attack on former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, which had prompted Polanski to demand extra security for himself and express sympathy.
Details of the post
The image, which appeared on a T-shirt worn at a Green Party event, was shared by Polanski on social media before he deleted it after the backlash. 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.” However, critics noted the post was up for a considerable time and questioned why it was shared in the first place.
Previous controversies
Polanski has a history of apologising for various incidents. He previously apologised for a retweet accusing Metropolitan Police officers of violently kicking a suspect during the Golders Green anti-semitic stabbings. He also apologised for not paying the correct Council Tax while living on a barge in east London, for falsely calling himself a “spokesperson” for the British Red Cross, and for claiming he could hypnotise women into having larger breasts.
Reaction and calls for action
The incident has reignited debate about online hate speech and threats against politicians. Some have drawn comparisons to the recent jailing of a woman for offensive comments, arguing that promoting an image that calls for harm to a senior politician should result in legal consequences. Others expressed frustration that no action is likely to be taken against Polanski.
As of the latest update, Polanski has not issued an apology directly to Farage, although the Green Party spokesperson’s statement condemned the image.
