It's staggering that those brave police officers are getting any kind of criticism. They deserve a bloody medal.
Well I for one have seen BBC coverage of the arrest and am happy as a non law enforcement professional to have a politician stand up and ask if it was proportionate or not, maybe it was maybe it wasn't, I'm no expert but the questions should be asked in a free and democratic society.
If he'd led with that question instead of some throwaway retweet, this conversation may have taken a different turn.
It would be nice if leaders could in the immediate aftermath of such events lead with reasoned and measured behaviour instead of the ****ing shite they all seem to drip on social media, might actually get somewhere.
I guess he got there in the end though.
If he'd led with that question instead of some throwaway retweet, this conversation may have taken a different turn.
Yes he should have done it differently but I am not sure those quick to bash him would have behaved differently but I guess we will never know
If he'd led with that question instead of some throwaway retweet, this conversation may have taken a different turn.
Yes he should have done it differently but I am not sure those quick to bash him would have behaved differently but I guess we will never know
As is the way with politics.
As is the way with politics.
This is the way
I watched the vid. I saw a bad guy justifiably tazzered and then unjustifiably kicked in the head. It's reassuring to know that a potential future PM wasn't entirely happy with what he saw. Nothing to stop me voting for him, on the contrary.
unjustifiably
In your opinion. Certainly not in the opinion of the officers on the scene. Nor in mine.
TL;DR - Polanski made a hasty comment about the event and then later apologised for it.
Uh, that's it
Yeah but he's an existential threat to some powerful interests so obviously they're going to kick the arse out of it.
TL;DR - Polanski made a hasty comment about the event and then later apologised for it.
I think the criticism of Polanski is valid. As the leader of a significantly large political party, just re-tweeting (even just in haste) uncritically a post without comment is not the way a serious politician should criticise the police, or speak with the public more generally. Politicians and especially leaders of party hoping to gain control of councils in a couple of days have a duty not to do this shit, and the fact that he's apologised is the right thing to do.
last couple of pages of this thread is batshit.
As the leader of a significantly large political party, just re-tweeting (even just in haste) uncritically a post without comment is not the way a serious politician should criticise the police
Agree. But lets be honest, in the grand scheme of mistakes that policitical leaders have made, retweeting a comment about cops kicking someone in the head is pretty far down the list. I mean Nigel Farage has just accepted 5M quid in an undeclared donation on top of proposing a policy of immigrant internment camps being built in areas which don't vote for him, but yeah lets talk about Polanski's retweet.
I mean Nigel Farage has just accepted 5M quid in an undeclared donation on top of proposing a policy of immigrant internment camps
But yeah, lets talk about a pair of glasses and a Arsenal ticket.
the fact that he's apologised is the right thing to do.
I'm trying to remember the last time a politician apologised.
Or indeed, ever.
Both Starmer and Badenoch keep repeating their apologies in nearly every interview (him for his own choice over Mandelson, her for her party's choices while in government). I think we're less likely to listen to and take on politicians' apologies than they are to make them these days.
I have no problem with Polanski's apology, I'm assuming it's genuine, and I think his slip up is more a symptom over how he uses Social Media than anything damning towards him or his politics.
but yeah lets talk about Polanski's retweet.
In a thread with his name as the title, that's perfectly justified.
I mean Nigel Farage has just accepted 5M quid in an undeclared donation on top of proposing a policy of immigrant internment camps being built in areas which don't vote for him, but yeah lets talk about Polanski's retweet.
Skip over to any farage/reform thread and you'll be surprised to find his/their every move gets slated (and rightly so)
But last time I looked this thread was about polanski and so it's entirely justified to discuss this on his thread.
Very good on Today (Radio4) this morning. You come away thinking he’s well ahead of his wider party in terms of what could/might come next for them.
but yeah lets talk about Polanski's retweet.
In a thread with his name as the title, that's perfectly justified.
To be fair, the point is not that we're discussing Polanski in a Polanski thread, it's that Polanski's tweet has taken up huge bandwidth in the UK media, especially in comparison to, say, Farage's £5 million backhander from a cryptocurrency guy shortly before pledging to cut tax on cryptocurrency.
The Green Party leader had reposted a message on X accusing officers of "repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser".
I couldnt find the acutal tweet, or context, but that doesnt seem unreasonable. This isnt America, we dont need panicy or violent police. No doubt its a hard job, i dont think i could do it, but a prerequisite must be being able to hold your shiz together in high stress situations.
Tbh, i do wonder why politicians go on Twitter at all. Its all just ammo for oppositions to pick at and twist around.
To be fair, the point is not that we're discussing Polanski in a Polanski thread, it's that Polanski's tweet has taken up huge bandwidth in the UK media, especially in comparison to, say, Farage's £5 million backhander from a cryptocurrency guy shortly before pledging to cut tax on cryptocurrency.
Whilst I totally agree with you (and the hysteria even on here is nuts) this isn't a Farage thread, and a robust defence after making a mistake is not "well, worse things exist!"
'Farage is worse' is not a flex.
He seems like a Michael Green esque weirdo to me. Seems to be the way of things now though!
I couldnt find the acutal tweet, or context, but that doesnt seem unreasonable. This isnt America, we dont need panicy or violent police. No doubt its a hard job, i dont think i could do it, but a prerequisite must be being able to hold your shiz together in high stress situations.
Tbh, i do wonder why politicians go on Twitter at all. Its all just ammo for oppositions to pick at and twist around.
Oh dear! Other words available.
A bloke had just stabbed two people. Two police officers tackled him forcibly to disarm him, uncertain whether he had a bomb in a rucksack or whether the tazer had been fully effective.
Some took to Twitter to criticise the police and later apologised.
Fair point about politicians using Twitter though, especially if they have not thought it through first.
For some, this episode will have damaged Polanskis reputation.
Dorian Lynskey can express this better than me...
https://bsky.app/profile/dorianlynskey.bsky.social/post/3ml67qlplsk2d
It was reported that Polanski's lawyers were involved with some of the media portrayals of him.
Personally, I think some of the Jewish tropes used must be straying into the category of "illegal". For all his faults (I'm a supporter. I'm not blind though) he has really got the mainstream worried.
he has really got the mainstream worried
He has really got the owners of our Right Wing press worried for sure!
For some, this episode will have damaged Polanskis reputation.
Not many I would have thought, those who support him will be mildly annoyed (possibly) but carry on, those that don't like him will continue to not like him. Floating voters may or may not be aware of him but the constant drip drip of negative stories (Red Cross spokesperson being the latest) may impact them.
To be fair, the point is not that we're discussing Polanski in a Polanski thread, it's that Polanski's tweet has taken up huge bandwidth in the UK media, especially in comparison to, say, Farage's £5 million backhander from a cryptocurrency guy shortly before pledging to cut tax on cryptocurrency.
Yes thank you. I would have though this was obvious but I underestimated the pedantry on here cos I haven't been around much recently.
PS. Having different threads about political personalities instead of one politics thread (or multiple threads on specific issues) is bloody stupid. How the hell can you have a discussion about anything if you're not allowed to mention other things that are directly related to them?
It was obvious to me, but only because of your past comments... nothing pedantic about the replies... your post wasn't clear.
One mega thread would be an utter bore. Good to be able to follow along on an actual topic, or an actual politician.
Polanski's "progress" would be lost amongst all the ridiculous noise that Trump gets to make near daily.
PS I note the Corbyn-period anti-semitism playbook is now being rolled out against Polanski and the greens. Quite how the only Jewish leader of a UK political party can be anti-semitic is somewhat beyond my tiny brain (clue: he's not anti-semitic) but it seems everyone is falling for it just like they did back in 2018/19. And who is deploying that playbook? Yes that's right, the right wing of the labour party, once again doing the dirty work for the tory/reform rightwing establishment.
Who said he is being anti-semitic? He's being challenged on comments made by local Green candidates, some of whom have already been kicked out of the party. He (and former Green leaders) have said that anti-semitism needs to be tackled, and that future elections with have a more stringent selection process.
Who said he is being anti-semitic?
Have you watched the news recently? The Trevor Philips interview on Sky on Sunday in particular was a disgraceful exercise in media friends of the pro-Israel Labour right smearing someone threatens their cosy status quo.
I didn't watch it. Did he say that Polanski was anti-semitic? Dreadful man I'm inclined to believe you about, but what were his actual words?
All I can find is this... Polanski comes across well... (not that I agree with him on his points as regards the police in this case):
https://news.sky.com/video/1234-13539639
Heidi Alexander comes off less well... when complaining about Polanski's use of Social Media... but she doesn't claim he is anti-semitic in the clips. Did she in the full piece? If not, who has?
Mentioned in this: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/06/zack-polanski-jewish-identity-leftwing-green-party-antisemitic-attacks-uk-press
Melanie Phillips... it's not news that she's up for attacking anyone on the left, with any underhand tactic she can use.
Did he say that Polanski was anti-semitic?
They aren't stupid enough to actually say it, not yet in any case. No one who saw that interview (and others) could have any doubt in the narrative being peddled by the media friends of the pro-Israel lobby. Just like with Corbyn in the early days all they have to do is drop the idea into the popular conscience. I have no doubt that closer to the general election outright accusations of anti-semitism and racism will be made. It's exactly the same playbook.
Yes that's right, the right wing of the labour party,
I wasn't aware that Trevor Phillips was the right wing of the Labour party. Does he know, d'you think? Or for that matter Janice Turner who pretends to be a Times Columnist and accused Polanski of using his Jewishness as a shield but is in fact according to @dazh a member of the Labour party, and presumably so is Melanie Phillips who also pretends to be times columnist.
weird old world
They aren't stupid enough to actually say it, not yet in any case.
Okay, so they haven't said it, whoever they are, but let's get the pitchforks out as if they have. Gotcha.
Polanski should expect to be challenged where/if he is equivocal about attacks on Jews in the UK, just as any other political leader would be. No free pass for any politician because you're Jewish, or married to a Jewish woman (Melanie Phillips is always attacking the PM on this issue). Did both the Philips try to make too much of their points/questions? For sure. Check how they deal with other politicians though... they're known for being unfair and playing dirty. It's not just Polanski that gets the hard treatment from them.
I wasn't aware that Trevor Phillips was the right wing of the Labour party.
He's best mates with Mandelson who was best man at his wedding. That alone tells you all you need to know, but if you need any confirmation just watch his interviews. It's plain for all to see where his political leanings lie.
