Green Party leader says sorry for “sharing a tweet in haste” after furious backlash
Green Party leader Zack Polanski says he shared a post ‘in haste’ (Image: Getty)
Zack Polanski has apologised to the Met Police for sharing criticism of officers after the Golders Green attack. The Green Party leader sparked a furious backlash after resharing a post on X, which suggested police were heavy-handed with the suspect following the stabbing of two Jewish men in north London on Wednesday.
His intervention prompted the head of the force, Sir Mark Rowley, to rebuke him in a letter. On Friday, Mr Polanski said: “Everyone in leadership has a responsibility for lowering the temperature at a time of such tension, and I apologise for sharing a tweet in haste.
“Police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so.
“I have invited Mark Rowley to meet with me to discuss the police response and the wider issues raised in his letter.”
The X post shared by Mr Polanski accused police of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head” when he was already incapacitated from being tasered.
But in a strongly worded letter, Sir Mark said he was “disappointed” and that the post was “inaccurate and misinformed”.
He added: “Your decision to criticise these officers, using your public profile and reach, will have a chilling effect.”
Sir Keir Starmer branded Mr Polanski “disgraceful” and “not fit to lead any political party” for reposting the criticism of the police officers involved in the Golders Green incident.
In an interview for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, recorded before Mr Polanski’s apology, he said: “When I then see Zack Polanski come out and retweet or support a criticism of that, I think it’s disgraceful.”
Defending the actions of the police, he added: “You have to make a decision in that split moment according to the situation as you understand it to be.
“And for politicians to wade in, as Zack Polanski did, is disgraceful. He’s not fit to lead any political party. “