Polanski accuses Times of ‘scraping the barrel’ over his claim to be charity spokesperson – UK politics live

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Polanski defends being concerned about how suspect in Golders Green attack was treated by police Zack Polanski defended expressing concern about the way the suspect in the Golders Green stabbings was treated when he was arrested last week. The Green leader has apologised for reposting a social media message implying the police used excessive force during the arrest. He said he should not have raised this issue in that way. But, when he was interviewed on the Today programme, he said it was important for people to be treated properly, even if they had done horrific things. When Nick Robinson, the presenter, put it to him that by reposting the controversial tweet, he was implying that he emphathised with the attacker, not the police officers, Polanski said he did not accept that. He said: double quotation mark My very first response to the attack was to be horrified, as everyone was, I’m sure, and the first thing I posted was solidarity to the victim, to the family, and indeed, to people who are suffering right now. Polanski said that he was Jewish himself, and that for Jewish people safety was not an “abstract” issue. He went on: double quotation mark Two things can be true at the same time: officers are incredibly brave when they run towards scenes of crimes that most people, including myself, will want to run away from. …