The Metropolitan Police are conducting inquiries after Green Party leader Zack Polanski was reported by Reform UK for sharing an Instagram image depicting a guillotine next to a threat directed at Nigel Farage.

 

UK Green leader reported to police over Farage guillotine post

The Metropolitan Police are conducting inquiries after Green Party leader Zack Polanski was reported by Reform UK for sharing an Instagram image depicting a guillotine next to a threat directed at Nigel Farage.

The Controversy

• The Post: Polanski accepted an Instagram collaboration request featuring a multi-photo carousel from a Green Party fundraising event in Bristol. One image showcased an activist wearing a T-shirt with a graphic of a guillotine and the phrase, "We're only making plans for Nigel"—a lyrical reference to a 1979 song by the rock band XTC.
• The Allegation: Reform UK officials, including Farage and home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf, reported the post to the police. They explicitly accused Polanski of "incitement to murder".
• The Defense: A Green Party spokesperson stated that Polanski "unequivocally does not support this type of dangerous message". He accepted the 20-image tag without realizing the controversial photo was included and immediately unshared it once notified.

Political Fallout

The incident comes amid heavily heightened anxieties regarding UK politician safety following the murder of Reform UK's Ann Widdecombe. Farage heavily criticized Polanski on X, arguing that if he had posted anything similarly inciteful, he would expect immediate arrest. Additionally, Conservative politicians like Robert Jenrick have publicly backed the police probe, demanding Polanski face the full force of the law. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they take reports of this nature extremely seriously