The controversy surrounding Green Party leader Zack Polanski has escalated, with a government minister branding his response to the Golders Green terror attack as 'disgusting'. Polanski has stated he remains 'concerned' about the police handling of the antisemitic incident in north London, despite widespread criticism and an apology issued last week.
Polanski's Stance and Apology
Polanski previously apologised after sharing a post on X that accused arresting officers of 'repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head' following a taser deployment. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned that such accusations could have a 'chilling effect' and criticised 'armchair experts' in an open letter. While Polanski admitted his repost was not 'appropriate', he appeared to stand by his concerns about the policing response. Speaking to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, he said: 'I was very concerned by what I saw and I remain concerned. The reason why I've apologised is because I accept that X or social media is not the appropriate forum to have that concern.' He added that an open letter from the commissioner was also not the right forum, but expressed relief that the matter is now resolved, noting he has requested a meeting with the commissioner to discuss the issue privately.
Political Backlash
Polanski, who is Jewish and a member of the London Assembly overseeing the Met Police, emphasised that public servants, including brave officers, should not be above scrutiny. He also criticised moves to crack down on pro-Palestine protests as a means to address antisemitism, discouraging the use of the phrase 'globalise the intifada' but stating he is 'not interested' in policing language. This follows comments by the Prime Minister, who called on protesters to avoid such chants, saying: 'It's not a phrase I would use personally... Words matter, but the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have been murdered, the people in Lebanon who have been killed, these people matter too.'
Labour's Communities Secretary Steve Reed condemned Polanski's continued questioning of the police response, stating: 'It's shameful that Zack Polanski is still questioning the police's response to the appalling antisemitic terrorist attack in Golders Green. Brave police officers ran towards unknown danger, risking their lives... Polanski's apology clearly means nothing given he continues to denigrate the actions of our brave police officers. He should be utterly ashamed – he is completely unfit to lead a political party.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also criticised Polanski's initial social media post, calling it 'disgusting' and 'absolutely abhorrent', adding that the officers demonstrated incredible bravery in a difficult situation.
Broader Context
The row comes as the UK's national threat level was raised from substantial to severe following the Golders Green attack, in which two Jewish men were stabbed. A review is ongoing into the impact of protests on societal cohesion and safety. Keir Starmer has suggested there may be a case for banning some protests, while Kemi Badenoch has called for a moratorium on pro-Palestine marches.
