Reform UK moves to report Polanski over post

A photographer using the name just.barold claimed responsibility for the picture and said it showed a satirical T-shirt. He apologised to Polanski on X, said the issue was not Polanski’s fault and said he had reported himself to police. In his own posts, he said the image was never meant to offend anyone or suggest a genuine threat to safety. He also accused critics of overreacting and said any anger should be directed at the person who took and posted the photo.

Reform’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf took a harder line, saying the image amounted to a call for Farage to be beheaded and could amount to incitement to murder. He said Reform had reported the matter to police and would also take it to the monitoring officer at the Greater London Assembly, where Polanski sits as an elected member. Keith Prince, a Reform London Assembly Member, also dismissed the claim that Polanski had not understood what he was sharing.

The dispute lands at a moment when security around political figures is under fresh scrutiny. Reform has pointed to the recent death of a party member and to the wider history of attacks on public figures, including the murders of Labour MP Jo Cox and Conservative MP David Amess. After that death, Polanski called for extra security for party leaders and said he had been worried for some time. He also told BBC Breakfast that he would welcome additional protection, though that decision was for the government.

The words on the T-shirt echo the title line of a 1979 XTC song, adding another layer of ambiguity to the image now under review. Reform has asked the Greater London Authority to examine whether Polanski breached its code of conduct, while police continue their inquiries. For American readers, the story is a reminder of how fast online posts can turn into serious political and legal fights when public safety, free speech and partisan tension collide.