Reform UK has reported Green Party leader Zack Polanski to the Metropolitan Police after an Instagram post shared from his account featured an image of a man wearing a T-shirt depicting a guillotine beneath the words “We’re only making plans for Nigel.”
The image formed part of a carousel of photographs from a Green Party event held on Sunday. According to the Green Party, Polanski accepted a collaboration request on the post and later removed it after becoming aware of the controversial image.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage publicly criticized the post by sharing a screenshot on X. He argued that if he had shared comparable material, he would expect police action, and said the same standard should apply to Polanski.
Green Party says image was removed immediately
Responding to the criticism, a Green Party spokesperson said Polanski did not support the message displayed on the T-shirt.
The party stated that once the image was brought to his attention, he immediately withdrew the collaborative Instagram post. It added that he “unequivocally does not support this type of dangerous message.”
The original Instagram post reportedly reached Polanski’s large online following after he accepted the collaboration request, rather than uploading the images individually himself.
Metropolitan Police confirm inquiries
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they had received a third-party complaint relating to the social media image.
In a statement, the force said it treats reports of this nature seriously and that officers are conducting inquiries into the matter. Police have not announced whether any criminal investigation or further action will follow.
Why the image sparked controversy
The slogan “We’re only making plans for Nigel” references the title of the 1979 song by the English rock band XTC. In the disputed image, the phrase appeared above a large illustration of a guillotine, prompting Reform UK to argue that it could be interpreted as a threat directed at Nigel Farage because of the shared first name.
Reform UK’s complaint comes during a period of heightened concern over the safety of politicians and public figures, with party representatives arguing that rhetoric perceived as encouraging violence should be treated seriously regardless of political affiliation.
What happens next
At this stage, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed only that inquiries are underway. No charges have been announced, and there is no indication that Polanski has been arrested or formally accused of any offence.
The incident has added to an increasingly heated political debate over online conduct, political messaging and the responsibilities of public figures when sharing content on social media, even when that content originates from collaborative or third-party posts.
