Fury as Zack Polanski demands Brits pay millions to make migrants MORE comfortable
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has chosen to release his Christmas message at exactly the same time as King Charles, with both videos scheduled to go out at 3pm on Thursday. The timing immediately drew attention, with some people online accusing him of deliberately clashing with the King’s traditional address, especially given Polanski’s long-standing support for abolishing the monarchy.
In his Christmas video, Polanski argues that almost £500 million of public money should no longer be spent on what he describes as “cruel” treatment of migrants around Calais. He says £476 million currently used for border enforcement and related measures should instead be redirected into a new system based on compassion, kindness, and basic humanity. According to him, the money is being wasted on policies that cause suffering without solving the problem.
Polanski’s comments are based on a three-day visit he says he made to Calais shortly before Christmas. During that trip, he claims he witnessed French police, funded by British taxpayers, destroying migrants’ tents and seizing pieces of wood that people were using to stay warm in freezing conditions. He describes seeing vulnerable people left exposed to the cold with nowhere safe to sleep, and says the experience deeply disturbed him.
In his message, he says the constant political language used around migration needs to stop. He argues that migrants are often spoken about as threats rather than as human beings who are simply trying to survive in extremely harsh conditions. He says he does not believe the British public are as cold or heartless as some political debate suggests, and adds that if more people could see the conditions migrants are living in, many would feel compassion rather than anger.
Polanski also criticises slogans such as “stop the boats” and “smash the gangs,” saying these approaches have failed again and again. In his view, pouring more money into enforcement and deterrence has not reduced crossings or ended human trafficking, but has instead increased suffering. He believes a humane, organised system would be more effective and morally right.
Acknowledging that his Christmas message may seem unusual, Polanski also uses the video to encourage people to donate to the Calais Appeal, a network of charities that provide food, shelter, clothing, and medical support to migrants living near the port. He says Christmas should be a time for generosity and empathy, not punishment.
His message comes at a time when immigration is once again at the centre of political debate in the UK, particularly around the country’s relationship with the European Convention on Human Rights. Both the Conservatives and Reform UK have said they would leave the convention, arguing it blocks tougher action on immigration. Supporters of the ECHR say it protects basic human rights and prevents abuse.
So far this year, more than 41,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats, keeping migration firmly in the public spotlight. Polanski argues that these numbers show current policies are failing, and that continuing down the same path will only lead to more misery without real solutions.
