Polanski likes posts saying rivals praise Hitler

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 30, 2026

Green Party leader Zack Polanski stirred controversy by liking posts accusing his right-wing rivals of supporting Hitler amid a social media clash with Nigel Farage, who reported a threatening image shared by Polanski to the police. The Metropolitan Police decided not to charge Polanski, citing lack of evidence that he knowingly shared the image, while investigations continue into others involved and security concerns remain high following recent attacks on politicians.

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has sparked controversy after liking online posts that suggested his right-wing rivals supported Adolf Hitler, amid an ongoing dispute with former UKIP leader Nigel Farage over social media conduct.

Polanski faced criticism for sharing an Instagram post featuring a Green Party supporter wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a guillotine graphic and the caption, “We’re only making plans for Nigel.” The post, seen by Polanski’s roughly 700,000 Instagram followers, was perceived by Farage as a threat. Farage described the sharing of the image as “beyond belief” and referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police.

In a BBC interview, Polanski declined to apologise for sharing the image, stating he had not noticed the content of the T-shirt fully before sharing the post, which was originally posted by another user. He also highlighted that he removed the post as soon as he became aware of its nature. “If I had done it deliberately, I would be apologising,” Polanski said. He further committed to handling his social media more carefully in the future.

Despite this, Polanski later liked several posts on Bluesky social media that defended him, criticised the BBC’s coverage, and suggested there was disproportionate outrage from right-wing groups. One liked post accused left-wing politicians of being held to impossibly high standards while claiming right-wing opponents routinely engage in far-right behavior, including praising Hitler. Another post suggested Polanski had not called for violence against his political rivals and labelled the controversy as “faux outrage.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed it would not pursue criminal charges against Polanski, concluding it was “unlikely” that sharing the image constituted an offence. The police added Polanski had not seen the image’s specific content before sharing it. However, they noted that more than 130 individuals and organizations had circulated the same image, and action could be taken if warranted. The person wearing the T-shirt has been referred to Avon and Somerset Police, with a recommendation that a crime should be recorded against them, leaving the decision on further action to the local force.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson acknowledged the sensitivity around the image, particularly amid rising threats directed at politicians, and reiterated their commitment to the safety and security of public figures. The spokesperson emphasised that while some advocated for criminal sanctions in this case, the police’s review did not find sufficient grounds.

The dispute follows the recent high-profile murder of former Conservative MP and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe in her Devon home earlier this month. A 28-year-old man has been charged with her murder, and a trial is provisionally scheduled for June 2027.

Farage has previously cited ongoing death threats and disclosed he funds his personal security with help from a controversial £5 million donation from a Thai cryptocurrency billionaire. The donation triggered a parliamentary investigation and prompted Farage to resign his parliamentary seat to contest a by-election in Clacton scheduled for August 13, framing the vote as a judgment on his conduct.

Both the Green Party and Reform UK have been approached for comment on the ongoing dispute.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.