One of 20 images in a carousel shared by Green Party leader Zack Polanski on Instagram showed a man wearing a black T-shirt with the words “We’re only making plans for Nigel” and a guillotine. Within hours, Reform UK had reported it to the police, accusing Polanski of inciting murder.
Polanski, who has 713,000 Instagram followers, shared the post on Sunday after accepting a collaboration request from another account. The image has since been removed. The Green Party said Polanski “condemns the image on the T-shirt” and unshared it as soon as he was aware of it, adding that he “unequivocally does not support this type of dangerous message.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted a screenshot on X, writing: “If I was to post anything as inciteful then I would expect to be arrested, and so should Polanski.”
“Green Party leader Zack Polanski shared a T-shirt image with a guillotine and 'Nigel' reference, prompting Reform UK to report him for incitement.”
The words on the T-shirt are lyrics from the 1979 song “Making Plans for Nigel” by the band XTC. An online seller described the design as “political satire” and sold it for £20. The photographer who took the picture, who goes by just.barold, apologised to Polanski, saying the image was “not intended to offend anyone” and was “clearly not intended as a serious threat to anyone’s safety.” He reported himself to the police.
The Metropolitan Police said: “We received a third-party report relating to an image shared on social media. We take reports of this nature extremely seriously, and officers are conducting enquiries into the matter.” The BBC understands Polanski has not been contacted by police.
Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf called the image “incitement to murder”, noting that it came weeks after the death of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who was allegedly murdered in her home. Prosecutors said a man hit her 21 times with a hammer in a “planned and targeted” attack. Yusuf said sharing such an image at that time was “staggering”.
Why does this matter for UK readers? The incident highlights the tension between free speech online and the legal limits of political discourse, especially regarding threats against MPs. The UK has strict laws against incitement to violence, and police regularly investigate complaints about social media posts. With political tensions high and MPs facing heightened security concerns, even satirical imagery can trigger a police inquiry. The case also underscores how quickly a collaborative post can spiral into a national controversy, especially when it involves high-profile figures like Nigel Farage.
Q: What is the law on incitement to murder in the UK? Incitement to murder is a criminal offence under the Offences against the Person Act 1861. It applies when someone encourages, persuades, or threatens another person to commit murder. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment. Police assess whether the communication amounts to a credible threat or encouragement.
Q: Could Zack Polanski face legal action? Police are conducting inquiries but have not contacted Polanski. To secure a conviction, prosecutors would need to prove he intended to incite murder. The Green Party says he shared the image without seeing its full content and removed it immediately. The photographer has claimed responsibility, which may reduce the likelihood of charges against Polanski.
Q: Why are MPs especially sensitive to threats right now? The recent murder of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who was allegedly killed in a targeted attack at her home in Devon, has heightened fears for politicians’ safety. The case followed a series of attacks on MPs, including the murder of Jo Cox in 2016. Security measures for MPs have been reviewed, and any imagery associated with violence is taken very seriously.
What happens next? The Metropolitan Police will continue their inquiries. No timeline has been given for a decision. Reform UK is likely to keep pressuring authorities to act. Polanski has apologised and removed the post, while the photographer has reported himself. The case may ultimately depend on whether police consider the image a genuine threat or protected satire, and whether any charges are deemed in the public interest.
