Reform UK reported Green Party leader Zack Polanski to the Metropolitan Police on Monday, July 27, 2026, after he shared an Instagram post featuring a guillotine and a T-shirt referencing the song Making Plans for Nigel
.
The controversy erupted on Monday when Reform UK confirmed it was reporting Zack Polanski to police after the Green Party leader accepted a collaborator request on Instagram. Polanski had shared a series of pictures from a public Green Party event in Bristol held on Sunday to his 713,000 followers. One of the images depicted an activist wearing a black T-shirt bearing an image of a guillotine and the text We’re only making plans for Nigel
—an apparent reference to the 1979 single by English rock band XTC.
Farage Demands Arrest as Met Police Open Inquiries
Nigel Farage called for Zack Polanski to be arrested, taking to X to share a screenshot of the deleted Instagram post.
“This is what Zack Polanski has just posted on his Instagram. If I was to post anything as inciteful then I would expect to be arrested, and so should Polanski.”
Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, via X
The post, which accumulated more than 600 likes before its removal, was deleted once the contents were brought to Polanski’s attention. A Green Party spokesperson defended the party leader, stating that he immediately unshared the post and unequivocally does not support this type of dangerous message after accepting the multi-image collaborator request following a public event.
Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, escalated the party’s response by labeling the share incitement to murder
. Yusuf added in a video statement reported by Metro that the action demanded formal criminal investigation. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police confirmed receiving a third-party report regarding the social media image on Monday, stating that officers were actively conducting inquiries into the matter.
Heightened Security Concerns Following Ann Widdecombe’s Death
The intense backlash occurs against a backdrop of acute political tension surrounding the physical safety of British parliamentarians and public figures. Just two weeks prior, Reform UK immigration spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe was murdered at her home in an attack that horrified Westminster. Joshua Kerry, 28, has since been charged with one count of murder over the killing.
The fallout from Widdecombe’s death prompted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to address the House of Commons regarding expanded security arrangements.
Merchandise Origin and Broader Political Fallout
The contentious garment itself is manufactured in Manchester. Its online manufacturer advertising asks prospective buyers, Who could Nigel be? And why the guillotine?
while describing the item as sweatshop-free and 100 per cent cotton
designed for those who prefer their statements with a side of mystery
as either a nod to the XTC classic or political satire.
Beyond the police report, the incident highlights a turbulent period for minor and major political parties alike. Polanski’s Green Party has faced electoral headwinds following the rise of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whose early policy rollouts have propelled Labour upward in tracking polls while Reform UK’s polling figures dipped to their lowest levels since March 2025.
