Zack Polanski has declined to offer an apology to Nigel Farage following his sharing of a controversial image featuring a guillotine on a T-shirt.
The leader of the Green Party explained that he unintentionally shared the image on Instagram, depicting a man in a black T-shirt with the words “We’re only making plans for Nigel” alongside the guillotine graphic.
In response, Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf accused Polanski of encouraging violence, while Nigel Farage called for his arrest.
During an appearance on BBC Newsnight, Polanski stood firm in his decision not to apologize to Farage, emphasizing that it was an inadvertent mistake. He stated that he condemns political violence and commits to being more careful on social media.
Polanski reiterated that the image was a collaborative post from a photographer, and upon realizing the mistake, he promptly removed it. He expressed readiness to cooperate with the police if necessary.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating the incident seriously, and Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden advised politicians to be cautious with their online posts, citing recent events.
Earlier this year, Polanski had apologized for hastily sharing a post criticizing the police response to a previous incident.