In a heated exchange during Prime Minister’s Questions, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer launched a scathing attack on Green Party co-leader Zack Polansky, accusing him of being “high on drugs, soft on Putin”. The Prime Minister specifically criticised Polansky’s reported calls to negotiate with Vladimir Putin to give up the UK’s nuclear deterrent and to withdraw from NATO.
Starmer’s comments came in response to concerns raised by Green MP Ellie Chowns about agricultural pollution, which she said received “one single page” in the government’s water white paper. The Prime Minister defended his administration’s record, stating they had “inherited a real mess on water” and were taking steps to address it.
However, Starmer then turned his attention to Polansky, saying: “This is the time, this is the moment to withdraw from NATO. This is the time to kick the US out of our military bases, this is the time to negotiate with Putin to give up our nuclear deterrent. I’m sure Putin (will) be very quick on the line for that one.”
He added: “It’s as reckless and irresponsible as their plan to legalise heroin and crack cocaine. That’s the Green Party now: high on drugs, soft on Putin.”
In response, Polansky took to social media, saying: “Labour are low in the polls and hard on the country.” He accused Starmer of using a “snarky line” written by a “special advisor” and suggested the Prime Minister could instead focus his energy on challenging “Trump on the warpath or the billionaire bosses ruining this country”.
Polansky has previously advocated for the legalisation of all drugs, arguing for an approach “led by public health experts” rather than politicians. He has also called for the UK to review its military cooperation with the United States and consider withdrawing from NATO, citing concerns over Donald Trump’s influence within the alliance.
The Green Party has been contacted for further comment on the ongoing controversy.
