Green Party leader Zack Polanski has renewed calls for state security after the death of Ann Widdecombe, warning that he has been offered nothing to protect him from threats. Widdecombe, 78, was found dead in her home in Haytor, Devon, last Thursday. A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and terror offences. Polanski told BBC Breakfast he was worried about safety both for himself and for all party leaders, and urged the government to provide him with extra security. “I haven’t been offered anything at all,” he said. The Home Office later reviewed his status, and Polanski now falls under Operation Ford, a policing provision for councillors. “I welcome the movement on that and that’s provided me with some extra safety and some extra steps,” he added. A Home Office spokesperson said the government keeps security provisions under regular review and that representatives should liaise with their local police if concerned.
Polanski’s remarks come as Andy Burnham, the incoming prime minister, also called for a serious review of MP security, saying politics had “darkened” over the past decade. But Polanski used the same moment to attack Burnham over his refusal to adopt Green policies. In an interview with POLITICO on Friday, Polanski warned that there is no future for Labour under Burnham unless he proves he is not “completely like Keir Starmer.” Burnham had said he would not try to “out-Green the Greens.” Polanski called that claim “bizarre” and accused Burnham of “sitting on the fence.” “By saying we’re not going to out-Green the Greens, what I’m really hearing them say is I’m going to continue to sit on the fence and not really keep anyone happy, which sounds completely like Keir Starmer,” Polanski charged. He said the Green agenda – including wealth taxes, rent controls, and climate measures – is the most popular policy platform with under-50s. Polanski appealed for “robust debate” rather than “character assassinations,” but conceded Burnham would be “undoubtedly” easier to work with than Starmer. He also said he would be “incredibly tempted” to stand in Holborn and St Pancras if Starmer resigns as an MP.
“Zack Polanski renews calls for state security after Ann Widdecombe’s death, and warns Andy Burnham not to 'sit on the fence' like Starmer.”
