ZACK Polanski has hit out at the "disproportionate" scrutiny he receives from the media compared to the likes of Reform UK.
The Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW) leader made the comments during a Sky News interview with journalist Rob Powell on Wednesday.
During the interview, Polanski compared the level of media scrutiny he received for failing to pay council tax while living on a houseboat, with the media scrutiny Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has received over a secret £5 million gift from a billionaire.
Polanski said: "It's right that I'm scrutinised. It's right that I'm asked questions, but also the disproportionality of which I'm scrutinised – a council tax bill, for instance ... compared to the £5 million of Nigel Farage, for instance."
Powell then suggested that Farage was being subject to scrutiny, adding: "Can you really say you're being subjected to anything more than any party political leader in a party that looks to be in its ascendancy and is doing very well?
"Isn't that just a relevant amount of scrutiny you're being subject to which Nigel Farage is being subject to on the right wing as well?"
Polanski responded: "I think I can say very clearly that if you compare the scrutiny that I receive compared to what Reform receives, it's incredibly disproportionate.
"Now, in the same breath, I should receive scrutiny, as should Nigel Farage. But far too often we see with right wing politicians, we're talking about £5 million here compared to a council–".
Powell then intervened, saying that the £5m secret donation was revealed by "journalistic inquiry".
The GPEW leader said: "Let me give you another example. I think Labour Together, and Josh Simons, it turns out that he potentially, allegedly hired a private investigator to investigate–"
"The story, which was revealed by a newspaper and journalist," Powell interjected.
"I imagine if we walked through this park [where the interview was taking place], most people don't know about that story, but other stories get pushed very, very heavily," Polanski responded.
"I often advertise where I'm going in public, so if journalists want to ask me questions, they can come to ask me questions.
"I'm not sure what turning up outside the house share where I'm renting is for public conversation – I know you've not done that, but it's just a wider point I'd make."
Polanski was referring to recent media attention around the fact he now rents a room in a five-bedroom house share in London.
