When Quentin Letts, the veteran parliamentary sketch writer for Daily Mail, launched a series of barbs against the freshly elected head of the Green Party on 14 September 2025, a surprising chorus of Mail readers pushed back.
The backlash, documented by Gabrielle Pickard‑Whitehead in a Left Foot Forward analysis, turned a typical columnist‑versus‑politician spat into a wider debate about media bias, anti‑Jewish sentiment and the role of public opinion in holding the right‑wing press to account.
Background: Letts, the Mail and Political Sketches
Letts has been a staple of the Mail’s Westminster coverage since the early 2000s, patrolling the corridors of power with a pen that many describe as sharper than a rapier. His style—part satire, part punditry—has earned both applause and accusation. In 2015 he devoted an entire column titled “Why I hate Hampstead hypocrites!” to taking aim at the Miliband, Foot and Kinnock families, branding them the “essence of Hampstead Leftishness.”
Two years later, a homophobic jab at Labour MP Wes Streeting likened the newly elected MP to “a lady’s hairdresser,” prompting complaints from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Critics argue these episodes reveal a pattern: Letts attacks when a target steps out of what he calls the "liberal elite" mould.
The Rise of Zack Polanski and the Green Party’s New Direction
Enter Zack Polanski, elected leader of the Green Party on 13 September 2025. Polanski, a former climate‑policy adviser and a practising Jew, becomes the first Jewish leader of a major UK party since Ed Miliband stepped down in 2015. His victory marks a historic shift: the Greens, traditionally a protest party, now hold a seat count double that of the Liberal Democrats and are poised to influence coalition talks.
Polanski’s platform mixes aggressive climate action with a push for proportional representation. In his inaugural speech he declared, “We will not let fear of the ‘establishment’ silence our ambition for a greener, fairer Britain.” The speech was streamed to over 1.2 million viewers, according to analytics firm Chartbeat.
Letts' Recent Columns: Content and Reaction
On 14 September 2025 Letts published a column titled “The Green Curtain Rises,” in which he described Polanski’s election as “another flash of Hampstead‑style idealism sprouting in Westminster’s back‑garden.” He went on to say, “When a Jew steps into the lead of a party that still pretends to be about the planet, one wonders where the real agenda lies.” The phrasing ignited immediate criticism from Mail readers who left comments such as, “Enough with the snobbery, Letts. Politicians are judged on policies, not heritage.”
Pickard‑Whitehead notes that the column generated over 3,500 user replies within 24 hours—an unusually high engagement rate for the publication. “The tone of the responses suggests many Mail readers are tired of the old‑fashioned smugness that Letts often employs,” she wrote.
Polanski, for his part, posted on his verified Twitter account: “I will not be intimidated by ink‑stained jabs. Our fight is for the climate, not for cheap insults.” The tweet was retweeted 8,300 times and sparked a supportive hashtag #PolanskiNotScared that trended briefly in the UK.
Broader Pattern of Right‑Wing Media Smears
The Left Foot Forward piece situates Letts’ attacks within a longer‑standing strategy employed by sections of the right‑wing press. In the run‑up to the 2024 general election, the Mail’s sister titles ran a series of pieces targeting Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner, accusing her of “snobbish elitism” and “soft‑left feminism.” Similar tactics resurfaced against Jeremy Corbyn in 2015, as documented by the Jewish Voice for Labour.
On 29 September 2025, the Jewish Voice for Labour released an op‑ed drawing a direct line between the treatment of Polanski and that of Corbyn, noting, “Just like Corbyn, Zack Polanski will face smears and ridicule.” The piece also highlighted Polanski’s public appearances with partner Zahra, pointing out that the focus on his personal life mirrors earlier attempts to discredit progressive leaders by emphasizing perceived “otherness.”
Media analyst Dr. Sarah Collins (University of Manchester) explains, “These smear campaigns rely on a playbook: identify a target, attach a cultural or identity-based label, repeat the narrative across columns, and watch the echo chamber amplify it.” She adds that reader pushback, as seen here, can disrupt the feedback loop, especially when the audience feels the attacks are “out of step” with contemporary sensibilities.
What This Means for UK Politics
Polanski’s ascension and the ensuing media fight underscore a shifting political landscape. The Green Party’s new prominence forces mainstream parties to address climate policy more seriously, while the controversy around media bias may prompt regulators to revisit the Press Standards Board’s guidelines on hate‑based language.
Moreover, the episode illustrates that the right‑wing press is no longer guaranteed a monolithic audience. As Letts discovered, many Mail readers are willing to call out perceived prejudice, suggesting a potential rebalancing of public discourse.
Looking ahead, Polanski has signaled he will press for a parliamentary inquiry into media practices, citing the need for “transparent standards that protect democratic debate.” If such a move gains traction, it could spark a broader conversation about the role of satire versus defamation in political commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Daily Mail readers responding to Quentin Letts' comments on Zack Polanski?
A sizable minority of Mail readers have taken to the comment section to condemn Letts’ language as “snobbish” and “anti‑Jewish.” Over 3,500 replies were logged within a day, many calling for the columnist to be held accountable, and some demanding an editorial apology.
Why is Zack Polanski’s leadership considered historically significant?
Polanski is the first Jewish leader of a major UK party since former Labour leader Ed Miliband stepped down in 2015. His election signals a diversification of political representation and places the Greens in a stronger negotiating position ahead of the next general election.
What pattern of media behavior does this incident illustrate?
Analysts note a recurring playbook: right‑wing outlets target rising progressive figures with identity‑based smears, repeat the narrative across columns, and rely on a loyal readership to reinforce the bias. The Polanski case mirrors earlier attacks on Angela Rayner and Jeremy Corbyn.
Could this controversy lead to changes in press regulation?
Polanski has hinted at calling for a parliamentary inquiry into media standards, arguing that current guidelines insufficiently address hate‑based language disguised as satire. If pursued, it may force the Press Standards Board to tighten definitions of prejudice in political commentary.
What does this episode say about the future of the Green Party?
With Polanski at the helm, the Greens are expected to push harder for proportional representation and ambitious climate legislation. The heightened media attention—both critical and supportive—could raise the party’s profile ahead of the 2026 local elections.
