Zack Polanski Says He Gets More Scrutiny Than Nigel Farage

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has claimed he gets more media scrutiny than Reform UK’s Nigel Farage.

It recently emerged he did not pay council tax when he lived on a narrowboat in London, though Polanski says he is taking steps to remedy the issue.

The politician has also been attacked for not voting in the local elections after he “fell short of time” to update his address on the electoral register after moving to a new home.

Speaking to Sky News, the London Assembly member said: “It’s right that I’m scrutinised, it’s right that I’m asked questions.

“But the disproportionality at which I am scrutinised, and a council tax bill, for instance, that it still turns out I might not even owe, has been scrutinised, compared to the £5 million [donation to] Nigel Farage.”

The Reform leader received the hefty lump sum from a crypto billionaire shortly before he decided to run to be Clacton MP in the 2024 general election.

He then failed to declare the donation to parliament, insisting the money was not used for political purposes but his own personal safety.

Farage is now facing a sleaze probe from the parliamentary standards commissioner.

When Sky News’ Rob Powell pointed out that such a donation was also uncovered due to journalistic scrutiny, Polanski said: “If you compare the scrutiny I receive to what Reform receives, it is incredibly disproportionate.

“In the same breath, I should receive scrutiny as should Nigel Farage.

“Far too often, as with right-wing politicians… we’re talking about £5 million here compared to a council tax bill!”

I think there’s been a targeted smear campaign [against me],” he also claimed.

Polanski later replied to footage of the interview on social media: “What’s really striking about this clip is that I laid out some of the nonsense against me – and why it was disproportionate. Journalist agrees some of it is ‘overcooked.’

“But none of my explanation nor the danger around my personal safety has made the cut….!”

In response to the interview, a Reform source told HuffPost UK: “I can say with some certainty that he doesn’t.”

The right-wing party has often accused the media of being rigged against them, with Farage alleging last year that the BBC has been “institutionally biased for decades”.

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