Green Party Leader Zack Polanski Faces Multiple Controversies Ahead of Local Elections

In his interview on ITV’s *Peston*, Zack Polanski said he was a “spokesperson” for British Red Cross. The charity said he only hosted fund-raising events and never held an official spokesperson role. Polanski later admitted the term was wrong and said he accepted the mistake, affirming the Red Cross’s need for neutrality.

iNews

Two Green candidates for Lambeth council, Sabine Mairey and Saiqa Ali, were arrested on suspicion of online racial hatred. Polanski called the messages “unacceptable,” pledged a vetting process and compulsory antisemitism training for all candidates, and said the party would enforce mandatory training. Former leader Caroline Lucas demanded swift action; a Labour spokesperson accused Polanski of “not being straight with the public,” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed him as “a man who is in over his head.”

The Guardian

Polanski told *Peston* that both Israelis and Palestinians have a right to exist, reflecting the Green Party’s call for a Palestinian state and an end to the illegal occupation. He also asserted that the UK government continues to arm what he described as a genocidal apartheid state. British firms sell weapons to Israel under licences; the government does not directly arm the Israeli military and has suspended some licences over alleged breaches of international humanitarian law. Polanski contrasted 200,000 small-boat arrivals since 2018 with the “Homes for Ukraine” scheme, which has issued at least 267,000 Ukrainian visas, suggesting the refugee programme exceeds small-boat arrivals.

iNewsThe GuardianThe GuardianBBC NewsPolanski squirms on Red Cross claims

Polanski accused Reform UK of seeking tax breaks for “billionaire mates” and argued that “owners of right-wing media, multimillionaires and billionaires” fear the Greens’ wealth-tax agenda. He highlighted the party’s membership rise from 50,000 to 225,000 ahead of the elections, framing media scrutiny as a campaign by right-wing owners threatened by higher taxes.

The Guardian

Polanski said the Greens are decentralised and disciplinary decisions are handled by an elected committee. The British Red Cross reiterated its neutrality, saying it does not engage in party-political activity. A Labour spokesperson urged Polanski to be transparent, calling it a matter of public trust. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Polanski as out of his depth.

BBC News

• “Those messages are all unacceptable and it’s important to condemn that.” — Zack Polanski, Green Party leader

The Guardian

• “There’s no place for antisemitism or any hate speech in the party.” — Caroline Lucas, former Green leader

The Guardian

• “I don’t believe any country has a right to exist. People have a right to exist. The Israelis have a right to exist. The Palestinians have a right to exist.” — Zack Polanski, Green Party leader

iNews

Local elections in England and parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales take place on Thursday. The Greens intend to implement the announced vetting and antisemitism-training measures before voting, while opponents continue to scrutinise Polanski’s past statements and claims.

The Guardian