Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage today: Police make inquiries

Last updated: 27 July 2026

For readers across Britain, the row matters because it sits at the intersection of political speech, online sharing and the safety of public figures. Reform UK has reported Green Party leader Zack Polanski to the Metropolitan Police after an Instagram post on his account included a photograph of a man wearing a T-shirt showing a guillotine beneath the words “We’re only making plans for Nigel”. Polanski later removed the shared post, while police confirmed they had received a third-party report and were conducting inquiries.

What People Are Searching For

The main question is whether Polanski personally endorsed a threatening message about Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, or whether he accepted a collaborative Instagram post without noticing one image in a larger carousel. The Green Party says the post contained 20 images and that Polanski clicked to accept the collaboration before seeing the controversial T-shirt.

Interest has also focused on the phrase itself. “We’re only making plans for Nigel” echoes the title and lyrics of a 1979 song by the English band XTC. In this case, however, the words appeared above a guillotine image, prompting Reform figures to argue that the combination crossed from satire into a threat.

What Is Confirmed

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it received a third-party report on Monday, 27 July, concerning an image shared on social media. The force said officers were conducting inquiries. That wording confirms police activity, but not an arrest, charge or finding that a criminal offence took place.

Polanski had shared the material with his 713,000 Instagram followers. The image was part of a collaborative carousel from a Green Party event and was later removed from his account. A Green Party spokesperson said he condemned the image and did not support its message.

Nigel Farage publicly called for Polanski to be arrested. Reform UK home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf said the party had reported the post to police and planned to report Polanski to the monitoring officer at the Greater London Assembly, where he is an elected member.

Collaborative post

An Instagram post that another account can invite a user to share jointly with the same images appearing on both profiles.

Third-party report

A report made by someone other than the person shown or directly targeted in the material.

What Is Unconfirmed

No source provided says police have arrested, charged or formally interviewed Polanski. The BBC reported that it understood he had not been contacted by police. The legal question — whether sharing the image amounts to incitement or another offence — has not been determined.

Polanski’s knowledge of the image before accepting the collaboration is also disputed politically, although the Green Party’s account is specific: it says he accepted a post containing 20 pictures without realising the T-shirt image was included. A freelance photographer who said he took and posted the photograph apologised to Polanski, said the image was not intended as a serious threat and stated that he had reported himself to police.

Reform’s description of the picture as “inciting murder” remains an allegation. Police have not publicly endorsed that characterisation in the material supplied.

The Bigger Picture

The dispute comes amid heightened concern over the safety of political figures. The supplied reports connect the reaction to the recent death of Reform member Ann Widdecombe and to wider calls for stronger security around MPs and party leaders. Polanski had himself called for party leaders to receive extra protection.

That context explains why a satirical or ambiguous image can trigger an immediate police referral. It also shows the risk created by collaborative social-media tools: accepting a multi-image post can publish every image to a large audience, even when the account holder says they did not inspect the full carousel.

Latest Status

The latest verified position is that the image has been removed, Reform UK has made a police report, and Metropolitan Police officers are conducting inquiries. Polanski has not been reported as arrested or charged. The next material development would be a police statement on whether the matter is closed or whether further action will be taken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Reform UK report Zack Polanski?

Reform UK reported him because his Instagram account shared an image of a man wearing a T-shirt with a guillotine and the words “We’re only making plans for Nigel”. Reform figures said they viewed it as a threat towards Nigel Farage.

Has Zack Polanski been arrested?

No arrest is confirmed in the supplied reports. Police said only that they had received a third-party report and were conducting inquiries.

What did the Green Party say?

The party said Polanski accepted a collaborative post containing 20 images without realising the controversial picture was included. It said he condemned the T-shirt and removed the post once it was brought to his attention.

What does “Making Plans for Nigel” refer to?

The phrase comes from a 1979 song by the English band XTC. The political controversy arose because the words were paired with an image of a guillotine.

What happens next in the police inquiry?

The Metropolitan Police may decide whether further action is required after its inquiries. The supplied sources do not state that a formal investigation, interview, arrest or charge has begun.