Zack Polanski is branded 'authoritarian' after calling for right-wingers to be shut out of society

By MARTIN BECKFORD, POLICY EDITOR Published: 22:33, 19 April 2026 | Updated: 22:58, 19 April 2026 Zack Polanski has been branded ‘authoritarian’ after calling for Right-wingers to be shut out of society. The Green Party leader questioned whether people with views that he considers ‘toxic’ could ever be persuaded to change their minds.  He also said the ‘predominant narrative’ that Winston Churchill was an ‘amazing Prime Minister’ should be challenged as the wartime leader was ‘deeply problematic’. His comments came after some of his own candidates for next month’s local elections have been accused of anti-Semitic hate speech. On his Bold Politics podcast, Mr Polanski asked his guest, broadcaster Zakia Sewell, how people can be brought together in an ‘increasingly divided’ world.  He added: ‘Before we go into complete utopia – which I’m totally there for – there are people, though, who would identify as Right-wing, or indeed even far-Right.  'And no matter what humanity or community we put them in, they are set on destroying or pushing this toxicity. ‘Do we think we can change their minds? Or is it a case of building a society that doesn’t include them?’ Zack Polanski has been branded ‘authoritarian’ after calling for Right-wingers to be shut out of society On his Bold Politics podcast, Mr Polanski asked his guest, broadcaster Zakia Sewell (pictured), how people can be brought together in an ‘increasingly divided’ world But Ms Sewell questioned if he was ‘in danger of alienating people who are perhaps more moderate’. Last night Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake suggested Mr Polanski’s comments were ‘authoritarian’.  He said: ‘Polanski wants to build a society that doesn’t include people with Right-wing views.  'Every regime that has tried to build a society along those lines – Soviet Russia, Mao’s China, Castro’s Cuba – ended in repression.  'This the opening line of every authoritarian playbook.’ A Reform UK spokesman added: ‘Zack Polanski has just let the mask slip.  'He doesn’t believe in persuading people or winning arguments – he wants to build a society that excludes anyone who identifies as Right of centre or even questions the Green agenda.  'That’s not politics, that’s authoritarianism.’ The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.