Greens turn on Zack Polanski over 'inappropriate and divisive' Golders Green police post

Zack Polanski has faced a backlash from fellow Green Party politicians over his “inappropriate" and "divisive” repost about the police's response to a stabbing attack in North London.

Mr Polanski retweeted a post on X criticising police officers for using force on a suspect in Golders Green after two Jewish people were stabbed.

Senior figures within the Greens have now turned on Polanski, with Welsh Green leader Anthony Slaughter distancing himself publicly during a live Senedd Election debate.

Mr Slaughter refused to defend Mr Polanski, instead describing the retweet as "inappropriate”.

Former Green Party deputy leader Shahrar Ali went further by accusing Mr Polanski of failing to stand with the Jewish community at a time when it was "under siege like never before”.

The fury came shortly after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley last night penned an open letter to Mr Polanski.

Sir Mark warned Mr Polanski risked "inflam[ing] tensions" and amplifying "us-and-them rhetoric”.

However, a Green Party spokesman said: “Zack has seen the video like everyone else and doesn’t know the full picture and knows it was a very difficult situation for the authorities, but we do need to understand more about the response.”

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Greens to pledge for a £15 minimum wage

The Green Party has pledged to go further on Labour's workers' rights legislation and to include one day rights on unfair dismissals and £15 minimum wage for all ages.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski is set to launch a “Workers Charter” at a May Day rally in Manchester today.

Mr Polanski said Labour’s Employment Rights Act, which became law in December, was “watered down after pressure from corporate lobbyists”.

He said: “The reforms introduced by Margaret Thatcher nearly half a century ago began the long march downwards in the balance of power and wealth in our country - from those who produce and do the work to those who profit from it.

“Successive governments have continued this, and the current Labour Government’s measures on workers’ rights, while an improvement, are weak and have been watered down after pressure from corporate lobbyists.

“The Greens are the new workers’ party, and we will address the massive imbalance in our workplaces and give control back to workers.”

Kemi Badenoch calls for Chagos funds to build Royal Navy frigates

Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch has urged the government to formally abandon Labour's blocked Chagos Islands deal and redirect £400 million of the savings to accelerate the delivery of new Royal Navy frigates.

Under the Conservative proposals, the eight Type 26 and five Type 31 frigates, ordered under the last Tory government, could enter service up to two years earlier than planned through round-the-clock construction shifts.

Mrs Badenoch said Labour "continually puts our national security at risk", pointing to the Chagos deal as a "disgraceful surrender" of British territory, the Daily Mail reports.

Met Police chief thanks Britons for standing up for Golders Green officers amid 'nonsense' Zack Polanski row

Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley has directly thanked Britons for standing up for the two officers who responded to a stabbing attack in Golders Green after Green Party leader Zack Polanski shared a critical post on social media.

Appearing on GB News this morning, Sir Mark revealed Scotland Yard received praise from Britons in response to the body camera footage and his open letter to Mr Polanski.

He said: "I am really grateful for the support of Britons who have, both in response to the body-worn footage released and in response to my letter, have been so effusive and assertive in their support for what those officers did."

The two officers apprehended Somali-born British national Essa Suleiman, who has since been charged with three counts of attempted murder, by using Tasers and later kicking the knife-clutching suspect.

Read Jack Walters' story here.

Alex Davies Jones: the Government "will act" against those who are inciting violence during protests

PICTURED: Alex Davies Jones speaking on GB News this morning

Speaking to GB News, Justice Minister Alex Davies Jones, said that whilst she will defend the liberty to peacefully protest "to the hilt", the Government will strike down on people who are inciting violence during demonstrations.

The MP for Pontypridd said: "Ultimately, we are a country and a nation of free speech. We have the right to peacefully protest and I will defend that liberty to the hilt.

"Anyone has the right to express their views and opinions, to government, to organizations about how they feel.

"But if you are going on these marches and you are taking part in anti-Semitic chants or are calling for globalizing the intifada, you are wearing slogans of paragliders, for example, and glorifying terrorist organisations, then the government will act, and I would expect the police to act and arrest anyone behaving illegally."

Three hundred extra police in capital to protect Jewish community, says Metropolitan Police Commissioner

PICTURED: Sir Mark Rowley speaking on GB News this morning

Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the government's initial announcement of 300 extra officers to strengthen local and specialist policing, but warned that sustaining the increased presence in north west London remains his key concern given the Met is a "shrinking organisation".

He said conversations with government over funding are ongoing and urgent.

Sir Mark, speaking to GB News, said: ""I need to ensure that the men and women I'm privileged to lead have the confidence to act as they rush towards danger and I need finances to do that."

Mark Rowley defends officers' response in Golders Green attack 

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has strongly defended the two officers who apprehended the Golders Green suspect, explaining that the force used was entirely justified given the suspect was non-compliant, armed with a knife, and potentially carrying explosives.

Speaking to GB News, he revealed he had written an open letter to the Green Party leader Zack Polanski over his criticism of the officers' conduct.

Sir Mark was clear that while he stays out of politics, he felt compelled to speak up when an "eminent person" challenges officers in a way that could undermine their confidence.

Heroes in blue: Shadow Defence Minister praises officers after Golders Green attack

PICTURED: David Reed MP speaking to GB News this morning

Shadow Defence Minister David Reed has praised the two police officers who apprehended the suspect charged with multiple counts of attempted murder following stabbings in Golders Green.

Speaking to GB News, David Reed MP, said: "The word hero is bandied around far too often, but to show the courage and bravery that those two police officers showed - they weren't specialist counter-terrorism police officers, they were just regular bobbies."

He confirmed he would be writing to the relevant authorities to ensure the officers' bravery receives formal recognition.

David Reed: the Jewish community does not believe "enough is being done" to protect them 

Speaking to GB News, Shadow Defence Minister David Reed said the Jewish community does not believe "enough is being done" by the Government to protect them.

He said: "Looking at the reaction that the Prime Minister received when he went to Golders Green is testament to the fact that the Jewish community, especially in that part of London, don't think enough is being done to protect them."

The Shadow Defence Minister called for the Met police to have the full powers in order to shut down protests that begin to incite violence.

He drew a firm line between peaceful protest and hate speech, warning that "when hate speech turns into physical violence and turns into terrorism, it needs to be stamped out as quickly as possible".

What is happening in Westminster today 

Good morning, happy Friday from the GB News Politics team.

Today the country is waking up to the news that Somali-born British national Essa Suleiman has been charged with attempted murder after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green on Wednesday - we'll be hearing from Alex Davies Jones MP, Justice Minister just after 9am.

David Reed MP, Shadow Defence Minister will be joining GB News around 8am.

Three men, two Ukrainians and a Romanian national born in Ukraine, go on trial today charged with arson and conspiracy to commit arson over fires at properties and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer.

England's Renters' Rights Act comes into force today, ending "no fault" Section 21 evictions, capping rent increases to once a year and shifting all private tenancies to rolling monthly contracts with two months' notice to quit.

The Tony Blair Institute has proposed scrapping the triple lock and replacing the state pension with a flexible "lifespan fund" that builds entitlement through work, caring and study, providing up to 20 years of support at current pension levels.

Stay tuned for more politics news throughout the day.