Cabinet minister rebukes Zack Polanski over Nigel Farage 'guillotine' post in wake of Ann Widdecombe murder

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 08:57, 28 July 2026 | Updated: 08:57, 28 July 2026 A Cabinet minister today rebuked Green leader Zack Polanski for his Instagram post mocking 'plans' for Nigel Farage's death. Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said there was a 'duty' on all politicians 'to be careful' about what they post or share on social media. He also noted how it had only been weeks since the 'appalling murder' of Ann Widdecombe, a former Tory minister who was later a Reform UK spokesperson. Mr Farage has called for Mr Polanski's arrest after he shared a photo implying the Reform leader's beheading. The image is of a man whose T-shirt depicts a cartoon guillotine with the words: 'We're only making plans for Nigel', lyrics from the 1979 song by English rock band XTC. The post was shared to Mr Polanski's official Instagram account, where he has more than 700,000 followers, but has now been deleted. Sharing the image on his own X account however, Mr Farage wrote: '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.' Reform last night referred the Green leader to the Metropolitan Police for incitement to murder. Nigel Farage has called for Zack Polanski to be arrested after the Green Party leader shared a photograph of a man wearing a T-shirt depicting a cartoon guillotine Mr Farage has called for Mr Polanski's arrest after he shared a photo implying the Reform leader's beheading  Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, Mr McFadden said: 'I think we're all bearing in mind what's recently happened to Ann Widdecombe, the most appalling murder of a former politician. 'And I think that gives a duty on all politicians to be careful about what they post, what they share. I think we've all got a duty to do that in the online world. 'People can make mistakes. It's for the police to decide if there's any further action to be taken. 'But as your reporter said a few minutes ago, it's not the first time Zack Polanski has done something like this. 'I think there's a duty on all of us, in all political parties, to just be careful about what we post or share.' The Metropolitan Police last night confirmed that officers were 'conducting inquiries' into a 'third party report relating to an image shared on social media', adding that they 'take reports of this nature extremely seriously'. Mr Polanski was tagged in a series of images from the 'Green Party Party' event in Bristol on Sunday, where he wore a T-shirt bearing the Daily Mail's slogan 'Beware the Green Menace'. The post was shared to Mr Polanski's official Instagram account, where he has more than 700,000 followers, but has now been deleted Speaking to the crowd, Mr Polanski said that division and hate 'will never win'. A Green Party spokesperson said: 'Zack condemns the image on the T-shirt. He was tagged in a post with 20 images and clicked accept without realising there was more to it than he had seen. 'The T-shirt is clearly in poor taste, especially at a time of heightened fears for the security of public figures having experienced multiple threats himself. 'He and the Green Party call on everyone involved in public discourse to show kindness and not encourage more division.' A spokesperson for Mr Polanski did not reply when asked by the Mail if the Green leader had offered a private apology to Mr Farage for the post. 'Making Plans For Nigel' was released as the lead single by XTC from their 1979 album Drums And Wires. A post on a website appearing to sell the T-shirt for £20 stated: 'Who could Nigel be? And why the guillotine? 'Whether it's a nod to old punk music or a sharper bit of political satire, this design is for those who prefer their statements with a side of mystery.'