Greens review social media operation as Polanski row rumbles on

The Green Party is currently reviewing its social media operations, which have served as a core driver of their surge in popularity over the past year, according to sources speaking to the BBC.

Unlike most high-profile political leaders across the UK, Zack Polanski personally oversees his social media accounts rather than delegating control to party staff members. While this hands-on approach fosters a sense of authenticity and spontaneity highly valued online, it simultaneously introduces notable risks.

The ongoing controversy erupted after Polanski shared an Instagram post featuring a carousel of 20 pictures. He explained that he failed to notice the offending image hidden among the other photos in the post, noting he had accepted collaborator tags for eight separate posts from that single event in Bristol alone.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage asserted that the t-shirt depicted in the image constituted incitement to murder, prompting his party to report the matter to police. Nevertheless, both the Metropolitan Police and Avon and Somerset Police stated that the incident fell short of the threshold required for further police action.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Despite law enforcement dropping the matter, the political fallout persists with Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick labelling Polanski a "nasty piece of work" during a news conference on Thursday. Within the Green Party itself, internal criticism has emerged regarding Polanski's heavy online activity, spanning platforms such as X, Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram, where his rapid rate of posting, commenting, and liking frequently draws mixed public reactions.

This is not the first instance where rapid online responses have generated controversy. Last month, Polanski was forced to issue an apology to police following comments he posted regarding their handling of the Golders Green attack. The latest scrutiny arrives as recent polling indicates the Green Party has lost ground to Labour following Andy Burnham's election as Labour leader.

Sources indicated broader concerns regarding the party's candidate vetting procedures on social media, pointing to issues involving antisemitic posts in recent months. Several candidates have stepped down during recent electoral cycles due to online activity, including two arrests during the local elections in May and the suspension of another candidate after winning election.

A separate party source verified that an internal evaluation of social media operations is underway, though they declined to confirm whether oversight of Polanski's personal accounts would shift. Until roughly a year ago, the party's dedicated social media team consisted of a single full-time employee, a figure that has since grown to three or four staff members and may expand further following the review.

Source: BBC Politics