Zack Polanski falsely claimed to be Red Cross spokesman - as Labour to release 'dossier of disturbing views' from Green candidates
Green candidates have been accused of “a raft of harrowing antisemitism, dangerous conspiracy theories and appalling comments supporting Hamas and Russia”.
Zack Polanski falsely claimed to be a spokesman for the British Red Cross, it has emerged.
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Mr Polanski set up a crowdfunding page for his campaign where he declared his role for the charity. However the British Red Cross says he “has not been a spokesperson”, and said that it had contacted the party’s leadership team over the claims.
According to the Times, the assertion was repeated on Mr Polanski’s personal website and two donation pages while he was running for deputy Green Party leader.
Mr Polanski said he was wrong to claim he was a spokesperson for the British Red Cross, saying this morning: “I used the wrong word, and I accept that”.
The newspaper also claimed Mr Polanski, 43, who worked as a hypnotherapist before moving into politics, was not a full member of the National Council of Hypnotherapy.
The Green Party said Mr Polanski had been a host “for several fundraisers for the British Red Cross” and had been on stage supporting their work.
He faced criticism when it emerged in The Sun that he claimed his hypnotherapy could help women with breast enlargement.
He claimed to have been misrepresented by the newspaper.
In 2020, Mr Polanski mentioned working as a “spokesperson” for the British Red Cross charity, adding that he was “really proud of the work we do”.
A British Red Cross spokesman said: “We support people in crisis every day, no matter who or where they are. That is only possible due to the large number of people who raise funds for us and volunteer for us.
“We are a neutral and impartial humanitarian organisation and to protect our vital work, we do not take part in party-political activity or campaigns.”
According to the charity’s records Mr Polanski has supported them, but was never a spokesman.
Labour is set to release a document which they say exposes 25 Green Party local election candidates for having “disturbing views”, including antisemitism.
The candidates have been accused of “a raft of harrowing antisemitism, dangerous conspiracy theories and appalling comments supporting Hamas and Russia”.
Two people identified have been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred towards Jews, according to Labour.
There are also individuals in the document who have allegedly posted racist remarks about Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.
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Communities Secretary Steve Reed has called on Green Party leader Zack Polanski to rid his party of these “toxic” views.
Mr Reed said: “This isn’t one or two bad apples. This is serial hatred from candidates handpicked by Zack Polanski and the Green Party to represent them at the ballot box.
“Voters deserve to have councillors who respect them no matter their background and who stand up for and protect all communities.
“It is clear that neither applies when it comes to Polanski’s Green Party.
“Polanski can’t stay silent on these abhorrent candidates. He needs to take action against them, withdraw his support and boot them out of the party.”
According to Labour, two of the candidates stood down before the election, but of those two, one remains on the London Green Party’s Executive Committee and the other has been campaigning for the Greens.
Labour added that another candidate named in the dossier says they have been suspended.
Responding to the allegations, a Green Party spokesperson told LBC: "We are standing over 4500 candidates in these local elections, the vast majority of whom we are proud to have represent us.
"Where there are examples brought to our attention that do not align with the values of the Green Party, we are looking into them, and in some cases candidates have already been suspended.
"We are investing in strengthening our vetting procedures to prevent inappropriate candidates slipping through the net."
The troubling allegations come after a bruising week for the Greens.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that leader Zack Polanski's approval rating has slumped following his reaction to the police response to the Golders Green attack, according to a new poll.
Mr Polanski apologised after sparking controversy for sharing a social media post condemning the officers who arrested the terror suspect following Wednesday's attack.
Since then, his approval rating has fallen 14 points, a survey by pollster More in Common has suggested.
Having had an overall rating of -13%, just above Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and behind Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey, Polanski’s rating has now hit -27%.
Catch every moment from 10pm on Thursday as polls close, with Election Night Live on LBC via radio, smart speaker or the app, plus live reaction and analysis through Friday and the weekend.