Zack Polanski has sharply criticised Keir Starmer after the prime minister ridiculed Green Party policies on drug reform and nuclear disarmament during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Two weeks ago, Starmer accused the Greens of being “high on heroin, soft on Putin”, a line that formed part of a Labour strategy to confront its growing left-wing rivals directly.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cabinet Minister Says Lord Mandelson Has ‘Moral Obligation’ To Cooperate With Jeffrey Epstein Investigation
Speaking on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg on BBC One, Polanski said the comments crossed a line and were unworthy of the role Starmer now holds.
He told the programme the remarks were “beneath the office of the prime minister” and accused him of resorting to cheap political attacks instead of engaging seriously with policy.
Drug policy row sparks fierce criticism from Green Party
Addressing the drugs comment, Polanski stressed the scale of harm caused by substance misuse and argued that mockery had no place in the debate.
He said: “Let’s start with the drugs comment. First of all there are thousands and thousands of unnecessary deaths from drug harm and from dangerous drugs and what we need is a public health approach.
“So when I talk about legalising drugs, the key bit is about legalising and regulating. If someone has a problematic relationship to drugs, then surely the answer is to make sure they’re seen by a medical health professional who can help them.”
Polanski went on to criticise the tone used by the prime minister in Parliament, adding: “To have Keir Starmer making cheap jokes, delivered badly by the way, from the Despatch Box was pretty disgraceful.”
‘Pretty vile’ Putin jibe condemned amid defence debate
Polanski also took aim at Starmer’s comments linking the Greens to Russia, arguing that national security deserved a more serious discussion.
He said: “And on Putin, this is the prime minister who is subservient to Donald Trump, a man who says he admires President Putin while shaming Zelenskyy in the White House.
“What we need is a public health approach [to drugs]”
Green Party leader Zack Polanski defends his party’s drug legalisation policy and also tells #BBCLauraK why he personally has never taken drugs or drank alcohol#BBCLauraK https://t.co/SSXISApUWc pic.twitter.com/rgOGDP82aQ
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) February 1, 2026
“Defence is a really serious issue; there is no bigger number one priority for a government or for the leader of a political party than to defend the people of this country and to make jokes about Putin and Russia, I think, is pretty vile.”
By-election battle intensifies in Gorton and Denton
The clash comes as Labour and the Greens compete with Reform UK in the Gorton and Denton by-election, scheduled for 26 February.
The Green Party confirmed on Friday that plumber and local councillor Hannah Spencer will stand as its candidate.
Labour, meanwhile, hit back at Polanski’s intervention. A party spokesperson said: “If Zack Polanski thought the Greens had a chance in Gorton and Denton, he wouldn’t have chickened out standing himself.
“A vote for the Greens or any party other than Labour just risks letting Reform’s toxic politics divide communities in Manchester.”
