Starmer says Polanski ‘is not fit to lead a political party’ after Golders Green police criticism
Keir Starmer has strongly criticized Green Party leader Zack Polanski for sharing a social media post that questioned police conduct during the arrest of a suspect in the Golders Green stabbings. Polanski apologized, stating he shared the post 'in haste,' while Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley defended the officers' actions as necessary and courageous. Starmer called Polanski's actions 'disgraceful' and said he was unfit to lead a political party, emphasizing the difficult split-second decisions police face in high-risk situations.
- ▪Zack Polanski shared a post on X alleging police violently kicked a mentally ill suspect during the Golders Green stabbings arrest.
- ▪Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley called Polanski's shared post 'inaccurate and misinformed' and praised officers' actions as 'nothing short of extraordinary'.
- ▪Keir Starmer labeled Polanski's actions 'disgraceful' and questioned his fitness to lead a political party.
- ▪Polanski apologized, acknowledging social media was not an appropriate forum for discussing police responses to emergencies.
- ▪Polanski also reported being targeted with Nazi salutes during a campaign visit and accused Starmer of using antisemitic tropes for political gain.
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Polanski retweeted a post the Met police commissioner called ‘inaccurate and misinformed’. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAView image in fullscreenPolanski retweeted a post the Met police commissioner called ‘inaccurate and misinformed’. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAZack PolanskiStarmer condemns Zack Polanski for sharing post criticising police at Golders Green stabbingsPM said the repost was ‘disgraceful’ after Green leader apologised and said he had shared tweet ‘in haste’Peter Walker Senior political correspondentFri 1 May 2026 14.09 EDTLast modified on Fri 1 May 2026 14.12 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleKeir Starmer has condemned Zack Polanski as “disgraceful” and unfit to head a political party after the Greens leader shared a social media post critical of the way police tackled the…
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