Polanski accuses Met police chief of interfering in elections as he reignites row over Golders Green assault | EUROtoday

Green Party chief Zack Polanski has reignited his explosive row with the pinnacle of the Metropolitan Police, accusing him of interference throughout an election marketing campaign.

Days after he apologised for sharing an “inaccurate” submit criticising the officers who responded to the Golders Green terror assault, a defiant Mr Polanski stated he was nonetheless involved – and that the police shouldn’t be above scrutiny.

He additionally hit out at Sir Mark Rowley and stated the Met chief’s resolution to publish an open letter crucial of Mr Polanski final Thursday was inappropriate within the run as much as Thursday’s native elections.

Mr Polanski apologised on Friday after sharing a submit on X that accused officers detaining the Golders Green assault suspect of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head” when he was already incapacitated from being Tasered.

Sir Keir Starmer was amongst those that lined as much as condemn Mr Polanski, calling his actions “disgraceful” and saying he was “not fit to lead any political party”.

On Sunday Mr Polanski recommended he had reposted the message as a result of he was “traumatised” but in addition stated he remained “concerned” in regards to the officers’ actions, including that everybody who works in public service “should not be above scrutiny”, and that actions should be “proportionate, no matter how brave”.

Asked on Sky News on Sunday why he had shared the submit, the Green Party chief stated that he had discovered the assault “very traumatic, especially as a Jewish person”.

“And I also found the video that was circulating online traumatic, too,” he added. “I accept, though, that conversation about that video needs to be had with the [police] commissioner rather than on X.”

Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips then requested: “You made a mistake presumably because you were traumatised, then?” Mr Polanski replied: “Well, you generally apologise when you make mistakes… it should be something I take directly to the commissioner and I accept that.”

But he additionally accused Sir Mark of airing his issues within the improper means. “Open letters aren’t an appropriate way to do politics either in a local election… and I’ll be having that conversation with the commissioner,” Mr Polanski stated.

Later, throughout an interview on the BBC, Mr Polanski recommended he stays involved in regards to the officers’ actions. He informed Laura Kuenssberg: “I was very concerned by what I saw, and I remain concerned.”

On the identical programme, transport secretary Heidi Alexander referred to as his actions “abhorrent”. Labour minister Steve Reed added: “Polanski’s apology clearly means nothing given he continues to denigrate the actions of our brave police officers.”

In a uncommon intervention final week, Sir Mark hit out at Mr Polanski for sharing the “inaccurate” submit and later accused him of “undermining” the pressure.

Mr Polanski additionally confronted a major backlash inside his personal celebration.

The Green Party’s Welsh chief, Anthony Slaughter, informed LBC that whereas he had not seen the tweet: “It does seem, from what I’ve read, [it] was inappropriate to retweet.”

The celebration’s deputy chief, Rachel Millward, who was additionally challenged in regards to the submit, informed the BBC’s Question Time programme on Thursday that she was “extremely grateful” for the emergency service response.

“I’m sure it was beyond terrifying, and these people are brave, well-trained in what they do; I’m sure they did a brilliant job,” she stated.

Sir Mark stated in his letter to Mr Polanski that he was “disappointed” within the politician’s resolution to share the submit, warning that it may have a “chilling effect”.

He stated officers have been “nothing short of extraordinary”, including: “Without their efforts to stop him, I dread to think what the outcome could have been.”