Senior Reform UK figures have condemned Green Party leader Zack Polanski after he shared an image of a man wearing a threatening T-shirt, apparently targeting Nigel Farage.
The photograph was one of around 20 pictures from a Green Party fundraising event in Bristol. While Polanski did not personally upload the photos, he did accept the invitation to be listed as a collaborator on the post - causing the whole post to appear on his profile.
One image in particular showed a man wearing a black T-shirt featuring a guillotine and the words: “We’re only making plans for Nigel” - a clear reference to Farage.
Polanski removed the post after backlash, but it has been preserved in screenshots. Farage shared one such screenshot and said: “If I was to post anything as inciteful then I would expect to be arrested, and so should Polanski.”
Reform UK has subsequently reported the Green leader to the Metropolitan Police, which confirmed that officers were conducting inquiries. Reform has also reported Polanski, who sits on the London Assembly, to the Greater London Authority’s monitoring officer.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick described it as “a deeply inappropriate, in fact, a sick Instagram post” and said it showed Polanski “isn’t fit to lead a national political party”.
Reform UK Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf highlighted the fact that the timing was particularly shocking following the recent murder of Reform spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe.
“Zack Polanski has posted to his 713k Instagram followers a photo of a man in a T-shirt calling for the beheading of Nigel Farage,” Yusuf said.
“To do this just two weeks after our friend Ann was murdered is staggering.”
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice defended the decision to involve the police, asking: “How many more Reform politicians do you want killed? Is one not enough for you? The law is clear that you cannot incite violence.”
The photograph was one of around 20 pictures from a Green Party fundraising event in Bristol. While Polanski did not personally upload the photos, he did accept the invitation to be listed as a collaborator on the post - causing the whole post to appear on his profile.
One image in particular showed a man wearing a black T-shirt featuring a guillotine and the words: “We’re only making plans for Nigel” - a clear reference to Farage.
Polanski removed the post after backlash, but it has been preserved in screenshots. Farage shared one such screenshot and said: “If I was to post anything as inciteful then I would expect to be arrested, and so should Polanski.”
Reform UK has subsequently reported the Green leader to the Metropolitan Police, which confirmed that officers were conducting inquiries. Reform has also reported Polanski, who sits on the London Assembly, to the Greater London Authority’s monitoring officer.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick described it as “a deeply inappropriate, in fact, a sick Instagram post” and said it showed Polanski “isn’t fit to lead a national political party”.
Reform UK Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf highlighted the fact that the timing was particularly shocking following the recent murder of Reform spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe.
“Zack Polanski has posted to his 713k Instagram followers a photo of a man in a T-shirt calling for the beheading of Nigel Farage,” Yusuf said.
“To do this just two weeks after our friend Ann was murdered is staggering.”
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice defended the decision to involve the police, asking: “How many more Reform politicians do you want killed? Is one not enough for you? The law is clear that you cannot incite violence.”
