Zack Polanski says he made ‘inadvertent mistake’ over social media image
Sam Hall, Press Association
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he made an “inadvertent mistake” over a social media image but will not apologise to Nigel Farage.
The image, which Mr Polanski said he “shared inadvertently” on Instagram and then removed, featured a man wearing a black T-shirt with the message “We’re only making plans for Nigel” and an image of a guillotine.
Reform UK said the party had reported Mr Polanski to the police, with home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf accusing the Green leader of “inciting murder” and Nigel Farage calling for his arrest.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force was “conducting inquiries” and took “reports of this nature extremely seriously”.
Mr Polanski told BBC Newsnight on Tuesday evening that the police had not been in contact with him, adding that he “didn’t pay enough attention to the T-shirt” and was “horrified” by its “dangerous message”.
The Green Party leader said: “This was not my post, it was a collaboration from a photographer.
“It had 20 images and I just didn’t look carefully enough and I accepted it.
“As soon as I was aware of what happened, I unaccepted it and took it down.
“I think it would be odd for the police to speak to me about that because I think it’s quite obvious that I’ve not done anything wrong other than making an inadvertent mistake.
“That being said, if the police do want to talk to me, of course I’m very happy to co-operate.”
Mr Polanski said he would not be apologising to Mr Farage, adding: “If I’d done it deliberately, I’d be apologising.
“But because this was a mistake, I think the important thing is that I point out it’s a mistake, that I also make sure that I condemn political violence, and also crucially, I make a commitment to be better on my social media.”
He added: “If Nigel Farage wants to apologise for all the times that he’s put other people in danger, then I’ll be happy to make an apology.”
A Reform UK source told BBC Newsnight: “It’s truly astonishing and quite frankly sickening that Zack Polanski won’t apologise for inciting murder.
“He admits it was wrong. He admits it’s dangerous, but he still refuses to apologise.
“Mr Polanski is not fit to lead a national political party.”
Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Farage said the Green Party leader “must face the consequences of his appalling decisions”.
He wrote: “Political violence is real. It is serious. It needs dealing with.”
Asked about the row on Tuesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said there was “a duty on all politicians to be careful about what they post”, especially in light of the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe earlier this month.
Mr McFadden told Sky News people could “make mistakes” and it was for the police to decide if any action was needed.
He added: “It’s not the first time Zack Polanski has done something like this.”
Mr Polanski has previously been criticised over his use of social media.
In May, he apologised for sharing a post criticising the police response to the Golders Green stabbings, saying he had done so “in haste”.
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Strange that reform want an apology. Farage never apologised for inciting 2 riots. Farage never apologised for saying hitler was right and for making hissing noises to mimic the gas chambers at Auschwitz. Jenrick never apologised after altering the words of a labour mp to make it sound like she supported the channel crossings. Jenrick said deleting the post was sufficient in his case.
Reform platformed Lucy Connolly who called for hotels to be set on fire. They gave her a standing ovation and use her as an example of the UK stopping free speech. Farage used her as an example of censorship when he tried to game an enquiry in the US.
And then we have reform councillor asking for MP to be shot.
And then we have (insert many more examples here)
And the BBC, basically turned the show into a Reform broadcast. BBC need OFCOM to tear it a new one but that will never happen.
Glenn Gibbins, how is he doing these days? What’s that? Reinstated?