Welsh Greens leader says Zack Polanski has ‘cleared things up’ after ‘horrible situation’

Welsh Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter made the comments during a party campaign held in Cardiff this weekend

The leader of the Welsh Greens said Zack Polanski has “cleared things up” after backlash over a post he shared about the Golders Green police officers. Welsh Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter made the comments during a party campaign held in Cardiff this weekend.

Mr Polanski, the Green Party leader, has since apologised for sharing the post which accused officers of violently kicking the stabbing suspect in the head after he had already been incapacitated. He has faced criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Met Police chief Mark Rowley as well as from within his own ranks.

Earlier this week Anthony Slaughter, leader of the Welsh Greens, said during an LBC debate that the post seemed “inappropriate”. But at the party’s campaign event at the Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Canton Mr Slaughter said: “I think he’s cleared things up and he’s apologised – he’s offered to meet the Met commissioner.

“I was on the spot (during the LBC debate) because I’d only just heard about it as I walked in, so that was my own personal feelings on it. I can’t speak for Zack but, as far as we’re concerned, it’s all been cleared up now. It’s a fast-moving, horrible situation, social media moves fast.

“Zack is the leader for the moment. The party was very strong already, don’t get me wrong, people going beforehand built the strong foundation. But he is so passionate, so committed, and really, he’s really stood by Wales over the years. So he’s always welcome here.”

Speaking at the campaign event in Canton, Greens candidate Tessa Marshall used her speech to extend sympathy to Mr Polanski. She said: “I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for everything you’ve done for this campaign and everything you’ve done for this party, like, it is seriously, so, so impressive.

“Everything that you’ve done and everything that you’re going through right now is absolutely… we see it. We are appalled by all the targeting, all of the… just hatred and nastiness that is coming your way. We see it and we feel it. I feel it, a part of it, I’m only getting a tiny, tiny portion of it and it is really, really hard.”

At the event Mr Polanski, who addressed candidates, members and supporters from the pulpit, said Green Party politicians will not be tempted by “fancy dinners or fancy drinks”. He insisted the Greens are not “professional politicians” and will not “get caught up with the establishment”.

He spoke to an audience of candidates and supporters in the run-up to the Senedd election on Thursday where the Greens are aiming to win their first ever seats.

He continued: “We need people to know that when they elect a Green Senedd member they are not electing professional politicians like other parties. They’re electing people who have had jobs in their lives, who know what it’s like to struggle, who know what it’s like to be in their community.

“And that’s exactly the person who, when they go to the Senedd, will not suddenly get caught up with the establishment and enjoy the fancy dinners or fancy drinks.”

“I won’t talk about drinking in Parliament,” he added, appearing to reference remarks made by Green MP Hannah Spencer in an interview with Politics Joe where she criticised MPs for drinking between votes.

Ms Spencer became the party’s most recent MP after winning the by-election in Gorton and Denton, south-east Manchester, in February. Mr Polanski said the by-election triumph demonstrated that “when it comes to Green Party versus billionaires, the Green Party can win every single time”.

He added: “The second reason why I mention Gorton and Denton is I remember being there a few days before the election, looking out at the crowd, and just thinking: ‘This is a crowd that wins things.’ I’m having that same feeling right now. Let’s go out there and let’s fight and campaign for every single vote, but also let’s recognise the momentum and the forward motion that Wales Green Party has right now.

“This moment didn’t just come about and, in fact, I’m often flattered by (people) saying, did this moment happen when you were elected leader? Certainly, there’s been a boost. But this moment has been happening for a long time. Wales Green Party has been building, people have been doing the hard yards, and this is the moment that everything pays off.”