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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Holly Evans and Kate Devlin

Local elections 2026 live: New poll shows Labour could lose control of Wales for the first time

First minister of Wales Eluned Morgan said Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership had been ‘an issue on the doorstep’ (Matthew Horrwood/PA) - (PA Wire)

Labour are predicted to lose Wales for the first time with the latest poll predicting Sir Keir Starmer’s party to drop to third place in the Senedd.

The latest and final YouGov poll in this election, published on Tuesday, forecast Plaid Cymru to win 43 seats in the Senedd, pulling ahead of Reform on 34 seats and Labour on 12.

This would mark the end of Welsh Labour’s rule after 27 years in power, with vast swathes of their former heartlands in the Valleys predicted to swing to either Nigel Farage or Welsh nationalist party Plaid.

Voters are set to go to the polls on Thursday for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, as well as for local councils across England.

Sir Keir is facing the prospect of losing hundreds of council seats across England, as well as Labour’s dominance in the Senedd, in the biggest test of public opinion since the general election in 2024.

MPs are reportedly moving to oust the Prime Minister in the wake of the elections, in a bloodless coup modelled on the way Sir Tony Blair was encouraged to make way for his successor Gordon Brown.

Key Points

  • What are the polls saying for Labour, Reform and the Greens?
  • Polanski admits he was wrong to describe himself as Red Cross spokesperson
  • Wales stands at a crossroads, says Plaid Cymru leader
  • Analysis: Trouble for the Greens as Polanski’s popularity plummets - just at the wrong time
  • Latest YouGov polls shows Reform UK to lead with 25% of votes
  • Everything you need to know about crucial vote that could spell the end for Starmer

Zack Polanski’s four major gaffes as local elections loom

15:41 , Holly Evans

Since his election as leader of the Greens last year, Zack Polanski has seen his party soar in the polls and its membership swell.

After winning a historic victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, where their candidate beat Nigel Farage’s Reform to take the seat, they are predicted to be one of the big winners of Thursday’s local elections in England.

But Mr Polanski’s popularity ratings have taken a major hit following a row with the chief of the Metropolitan Police over a post he shared about the Golders Green stabbings, with his ‘net approval’ falling 14 points.

Here we take a look at that misstep and others:

Zack Polanski’s four major gaffes as local elections loom

‘Odds against’ John Swinney’s SNP winning Holyrood majority, says polling expert

15:27 , Holly Evans

The SNP is set to “gobble up” constituency seats at Holyrood but the “odds are against” John Swinney’s party winning an overall majority, polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice has said.

The University of Strathclyde academic said the latest polling indicates the SNP is “not quite far enough” ahead with voters to win more than half the seats at Holyrood.

He was speaking on the eve of the Scottish Parliament election, with the vote coming at the end of a campaign in which SNP leader Mr Swinney has been focused on repeating the party’s success from 2011 and securing an overall majority.

The Scottish First Minister believes such a result could lead Westminster to change its stance and permit a second independence referendum.

While Mr Swinney has already pencilled in 2028 for such a vote, Sir John said key battles in a “handful of seats” could deny the SNP an overall majority.

Labour predicted to fall to third place in Senedd elections

15:14 , Holly Evans

Labour has led Wales for more than two decades but, if opinion polls are to be believed, Plaid Cymru and Reform are vying to become the biggest party in the Welsh Parliament after May 7.

The latest and final YouGov poll in this election, published on Tuesday, forecast Plaid Cymru to win 43 seats in the Senedd, pulling ahead of Reform on 34 seats and Labour on 12.

Wales stands at a crossroads, says Plaid Cymru leader

14:48 , Holly Evans

The leader of Plaid Cymru has said Wales stands at a crossroads on the eve of the Welsh Parliament election.

Speaking in Llandudno, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the country has a “choice of two futures” in the vote on Thursday.

Labour has led Wales for more than two decades but, if opinion polls are to be believed, Plaid Cymru and Reform are vying to become the biggest party in the Welsh Parliament after May 7.

The latest and final YouGov poll in this election, published on Tuesday, forecast Plaid Cymru to win 43 seats in the Senedd, pulling ahead of Reform on 34 seats and Labour on 12.

Rhun ap Iorweth has said Wales has 'a choice of two futures' (Getty)

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Our nation stands on a crossroads.

“We have a choice of two futures, it is that choice based on hope, a vision for the future that Plaid Cymru represents, and I hope people make the positive choice based on our values, based on our vision.

“But the other option for Wales on this crossroads represents division.

“It is the old Westminster establishment, marred by the same old self-interest and the same old scandal.

“That’s what Nigel Farage represents in this election.”

Farage under pressure to tackle racist Reform candidates who ‘spew hate online’

14:30 , Holly Evans

Reform UK candidates standing in this week’s local elections appear to have posted racist and Islamophobic views on social media, as well as support for far-right figures like Tommy Robinson and Nick Griffin, The Independent can reveal.

The revelations about candidates standing for the party in seats in south-east England add to concerns that Nigel Farage is failing to tackle extremism in his party despite his claims that Reform’s vetting system is the best in British politics.

It also follows a failure by Reform to deal with candidates in the north of England exposed by The Independent, who espoused racist, misogynist and homophobic views on social media.

Read the full article from our political editor David Maddox here:

Farage under pressure to tackle racist Reform candidates who ‘spew hate online’

Badenoch: Tories facing new reality of multi-party era

14:15 , Holly Evans

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives are facing the new reality of multi-party politics as she braces for losses in the local elections.

She insisted she was leading a “new party” and hoped for some eye-catching successes when results come through on Friday, but acknowledged that the old era of Tory and Labour national dominance was over.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK have consistently led national opinion polls for more than a year and are poised to make big inroads in councils across England and in the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary contests.

Mrs Badenoch insisted she would not do any deals with her rivals and claimed her party had been helped by troublemakers defecting to Mr Farage’s party.

She said: “What we’re going to see on Friday is what multi-party politics looks like. The two-party era has moved into a multi-party era.

“But the fact is none of these new parties or Labour have a plan for the country. What’s astonishing is that a Labour government that came in less than two years ago on a landslide has become so unpopular.

“They thought governing was easy. It is not.

“The people who know how to govern, who know how to run things, are Conservatives.”

Kemi Badenoch has insisted she would not do any deals with Reform UK (PA)

More than 60 councillors have left Reform over the past year. They tell us why

14:00 , Holly Evans

“We are now the main opposition party,” Nigel Farage declared as his party swept to a string of victories in England’s local elections last year.

Mr Farage claimed Reform UK – which has only been around in its current form since January 2021 – had broken the grip of Labour and Conservatives, winning 677 council seats and carving deep inroads in the parties’ long-established heartlands, by taking over 10 councils.

On the back of promises to scrap net zero, target wasteful spending and fix potholes, the right-wing party looked to have hit the right note with disillusioned communities across the country.

But not long after the tables to count ballot papers were folded up, and the election campaign posters were taken down, problems began to arise as the party started to take the reins of local authorities with multimillion-pound budgets.

Read the full story from our reporter Alex Ross here:

More than 60 councillors have left Reform over the past year. They tell us why

Labour can ‘make history’ and ‘pull off a surprise’, Sarwar says on election eve

13:45 , Holly Evans

Scots have a chance to “make history” on election day and remove the SNP after nearly two decades of power, Anas Sarwar has said.

In a rallying cry to members on the eve of the election, the Scottish Labour leader said his party could “pull off a surprise” and outdo the polls.

He insisted Labour was fighting to win the election and form the next government despite surveys suggesting the party could face a historic defeat and end in third place behind Reform and the SNP.

Asked whether he would continue as leader for the rest of the next parliament, regardless of the outcome of the election, Mr Sarwar said: “I look forward to leading Scottish Labour and leading the next Scottish Government into supporting this great country for the next five years.”

The Scottish Labour leader was introduced by a teary Jackie Baillie, his deputy, and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, with Ms Baillie telling the crowd that the party had one clear message: “Reject Reform, beat the SNP, change Scotland.”

Mr Sarwar, who received a standing ovation from the audience in Glasgow, urged voters to give him five years to improve Scotland’s hospitals, schools and streets after nearly 20 years of “managed decline” under the SNP.

He said: “You have given John Swinney and the SNP 20 years – give me five.

“In that time, we will demonstrate that we can fix the NHS, we can make life more affordable and we can build a better future for Scotland.

“But that means rejecting Reform, beating the SNP, changing Scotland, and the only way to do that is by voting Scottish Labour.”

Reform plans threaten maternity leave and job security for half a million pregnant women, analysis shows

13:30 , Holly Evans

Half a million pregnant women could lose workplace protections each year under Reform UK’s plans to scrap the Equality Act, new analysis has shown, with charities and campaign groups warning that plans would “wipe out decades of progress”.

In February, the party’s equality spokesperson Suella Braverman unveiled plans to repeal the act “on day one” if it wins the next election, claiming that Britain is being “ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion” policies.

The Equality Act 2010 – which replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single act – legally protects those with protected characteristics, including pregnancy and maternity, from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It makes it unlawful to fire, harass, or disadvantage women because they are pregnant, have a pregnancy-related illness, or are on maternity leave.

Read the full exclusive from our political correspondent Millie Cooke here:

Reform plans ‘threaten maternity leave and job security for 500,000 pregnant women’

Keir Starmer vows to round off local election campaign ‘fighting for every vote’

13:26 , Holly Evans

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to go into polling day “fighting for every vote” but acknowledged Labour could be in for a “challenge”, as political leaders conclude their local election campaign trails.

Wednesday marks the final full day of campaigning before polls open on Thursday across England, Scotland and Wales.

Almost 25,000 candidates are fighting to be elected to more than 5,000 seats on 136 councils across England.

In Scotland, all 129 seats are up for election in Holyrood, while voters in Wales will choose a set of 96 members of the Senedd.

At a Labour campaign rally in south London on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir was asked how he could convince voters to support his party in Thursday’s election, as it faces a slump in opinion polls.

“As you can see, we’ve got a fantastic Labour team working every single day in London and across the country, campaigning with fantastic councillors and candidates and with a very positive message,” he replied.

“Of course, it’s going to be a challenge, but it is really important we go in fighting for every vote, which has to be earned, in relation to this.”

Starmer helps out in the call centre at Labour Party headquarters in London on Wednesday, the last day of campaigning (PA)

Nigel Farage suggests Polanski may be a 'fantasist' after Red Cross claims

13:11 , Holly Evans

Nigel Farage has responded to Zack Polanski’s claim to have been a British Red Cross spokesperson by suggesting he may be a “fantasists”.

The Reform UK leader told journalists: “Maybe Polanski’s a fantasist – I’m not sure.”

Asked whether his own CV was “clear of anything”, Mr Farage told broadcasters: “How many years has my CV been looked at in public? I would suggest it’s been going on for at least 15 years.”

Join The Independent's exclusive Ask Me Anything session

12:55 , Holly Evans

Welcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with us, former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara and ex-special advisor to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, Cleo Watson. You might also know us as the hosts of The Independent’s politics podcast, In The Room.

Follow the link here to join the full Q&A:

We’re former No 10 insiders – ask us anything about Labour’s future

Starmer is 'remarkably resolute' ahead of potential local election disaster, key ally says

12:44 , Holly Evans

A leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer would not be the answer to Labour’s problems, a key ally of the prime minister has said.

Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden was asked if Sir Keir would fight any challenge to his leadership, and told the broadcaster: “Yes, and I hope there isn’t, because I don’t think it would be the answer to our problems. We’d be saying to the public, ‘just hold on for a few months while we go over here and sort something out’. That is not what the public wants to hear.

“I hope we do well tomorrow. But even if we don’t, the day after our job is to wake up, continue with doing our job and serve the country.”

Mr McFadden had earlier told Sky News: “The prime minister was elected for a five-year term, and he should serve out that term. His job is to lead the country through uncertain times, and that’s the job I know he wakes up in the morning and wants to do.”

Asked whether Sir Keir is ready to face down any challenges to his leadership, the senior Cabinet minister said: “Yes, he is feeling that. He’s remarkably resolute, and he knows that to turn inward at this moment, or to turn inward after Thursday would be a mistake.

“He said he would put the country first when he fought the election a couple of years ago, and he will continue to put the country first.”

Nigel Farage insists there's 'no case to answer' over £5m gift from crypto-billionaire

12:28 , Holly Evans

Nigel Farage has claimed “there is no case to answer”, after it emerged he received a previously-undeclared gift of around £5 million from Reform UK donor Christopher Harborne.

Asked about the money, thought to have been given to bolster his security, Mr Farage told broadcasters: “I have been physically under attack since 2013. I can’t catch the Underground and I’ll never be able to as long as I live.

“And that money was given to me with the knowledge that the state in this country have never, ever wanted to help me.”

Asked whether he would refer himself to Parliament’s standards watchdog, the Reform leader replied: “Because why would I? I mean, honestly, we’ve looked at this with lawyers and everything.

“There is no case to answer. Of course, the other parties will try and make hay out of it – there’s no case to answer.”

Nigel Farage said he would not refer himself to Parliament’s standards watchdog over a £5 million gift from Reform UK donor Christopher Harborne (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire)

Polanski's popularity plummets after Met Police criticism, data shows

12:12 , Holly Evans

Zack Polanski’s popularity has plummeted in the days since he shared a retweet criticising Met Police officers for kicking the head of the Golders Green stabbing suspect while he held a knife.

He faced widespread rebuke from politicians across the political spectrum as well as force chief Mark Rowley, who penned an open letter expressing his disappointment.

Now, new YouGov data shows that negative attitudes towards Polanski have spiked following the incident.

Immediately prior to the retweet, in a poll on 28-29 April, 39 per cent of Britons had an unfavourable view of the Green leader. As of their latest poll on 4-5 May, that figure has now risen to 47 per cent - an increase of eight points.

This marks his worst rating since becoming Green leader last year. The majority of that negativity has come from voters who previously voted for the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Reform UK in the 2024 elections.

I’m not ready to be prime minister right now, Polanksi admits

11:56 , Holly Evans

Met Police hit back at Polanski after he wrongly claimed Golders Green attacker was handcuff

11:50 , Kate Devlin

The Metropolitan Police have hit back at the Green leader after he incorrectly claimed that the Golders Green terror suspect was handcuffed in a video that last week sparked an incendiary row between Mr Polanski and the force’s chief.

In an interview on the BBC’s Today programme, Mr Polanski said he was “traumatised by seeing someone handcuffed and repeatedly kicked in the head”.

But the video, widely circulated online, clearly shows the man, on the floor after being Tasered, but not in handcuffs, with officers grappling to get something out of his hands.

A Green Party spokesperson said: "Zack misspoke and meant that the man was on the floor.

"In a statement, the Met declined to comment further but pointed to a message it posted the day of the attack, which read: “Our brave officers confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent, and who continued to pose a clear threat.

“Using only their training, courage and tasers, they detained him while he continued to try to attack and stab them. This took true courage.”

Local elections will show Reform to be 'the only true national party', Farage says

11:44 , Holly Evans

Nigel Farage said Reform UK would be “the only true national party” after Thursday’s local elections.

Speaking to journalists in Westminster in front of a ballot box with the slogan “Vote Reform, get Starmer out”, Mr Farage said: “The only way to get rid of this awful, unpatriotic Prime Minister is to go out and vote Reform tomorrow.”

Mr Farage predicted a strong Reform result would mean Sir Keir Starmer would be “gone by the middle of summer”, adding: “If you want real change, you had better vote for it.”

He said: “I hope and believe we will emerge over the course of the next couple of days as the only true national party.”

Nigel Farage in front of a sign reading 'Vote Reform, get Starmer out' in Westminster (PA)

Everything you need to know about crucial vote that could spell the end for Starmer

11:39 , Holly Evans

More than 5,000 council seats will be up for grabs when voters in England go to the polls on Thursday.

Local elections are taking place for 136 local authorities on 7 May, including some of the largest cities in the country and the whole of London.

A mix of urban authorities and rural districts are also holding elections, along with several county councils.

Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming elections and what it means for your area:

Everything you need to know about the local elections

Latest YouGov polls shows Reform UK to lead with 25% of votes

11:23 , Holly Evans

The latest YouGov poll ahead of Thursday’s local elections has shown Reform UK leading with 25 per cent of the vote, with Labour trailing at 18 per cent.

The Tories are also set for a disappointing set of results with just 17 per cent, while the Greens are set to gain a number of councillors with 15 per cent, despite leader Zack Polanski coming under heavy criticism in recent days.

Starmer could cost us the election, Welsh Labour leader says in stinging attack on prime minister

11:12 , Holly Evans

Sir Keir Starmer could cost the Labour Party the Senedd for the first time in its history, Welsh first minister Eluned Morgan has said in a damning assessment of the prime minister’s impact on the party’s chances at this week’s election.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Baroness Morgan of Ely said the prime minister “comes up as an issue on the doorstep”, suggesting his leadership could be to blame for what are expected to be a difficult set of results on Thursday.

She also refused to back Sir Keir as Labour leader beyond “this point in time”.

While she insisted it would not be “helpful” to oust him right now, she refused to say whether she thought he would lead the party into the next general election.

Read the full article from our political correspondent Millie Cooke here:

Starmer could cost us the election, Welsh Labour leader says in stinging attack

Polanski wrongly claimed to be full member of National Council of Hypnotherapy

11:06 , Holly Evans

The Times have also reported that Zack Polanski was not a full member of the National Council of Hypnotherapy, despite claiming to be one.

He previously came under scrutiny for a 2013 article in The Sun newspaper, in which he claimed to offer hypnosis for breast enlargement. He has apologised multiple times , which occurred before he entered politics.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “After previously fibbing about his weird hypnotic past, Zack Polanski has been caught in the act again.

“It’s not the first time the Green Party leader hasn’t been straight with the public.

“He refuses to say if his council candidates have been suspended for vile antisemitism after claiming to have acted.

“Now there are serious questions about the work and qualifications he has boasted about. This is a matter of trust.

“Voters will rightly wonder whether Lib Dem-turned-Green Polanski believes anything at all, or whether it’s just all for a cheap headline. Polanski should come clean with the public.”

Kemi Badenoch says Polanski is 'in over his head'

10:53 , Holly Evans

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said on Wednesday the recent row of Zack Polanski’s Red Cross claim was a sign he was “in over his head”.

The Green Party leader has also faced widespread rebuke for sharing criticism on social media after footage showed two officers repeatedly kicking a man who appeared to be the suspect in the head after he had been tasered.

She said: “I think that Zack Polanski is a man who is in over his head. He clearly thinks that politics is just something fun to do, I don’t think he’s thought through his views particularly.”

She added: “Lots of people in the Green Party, you can see, are away with the fairies, they are not serious at all. Zack Polanski was criticising the police who were apprehending a man who just tried to kill two people. That’s not what a serious party leader does.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Zack Polanski was 'in over his head' (PA)

Analysis: Trouble for the Greens as Polanski’s popularity plummets - just at the wrong time

10:42 , Holly Evans

Analysis by Kate Devlin, our Whitehall Editor

The Greens should be on a high right now, less than 24 hours before voting opens in England’s local elections.

The party had been predicted, along with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, to be one of the big winners of the night.

Instead Green leader Zack Polanski’s popularity ratings have taken a major hit following a row with the chief of the Metropolitan Police over a post he shared about the Golders Green stabbings, according to a new poll which shows his ‘net approval’ rating has fallen 14 points.

To add to his woes the party’s former leader Caroline Lucas has called for the Greens to take immediate action against candidates who have made antisemitic comments or posts, following a series of cases.

And he is under fire for a false claim he was British Red Cross spokesperson and for wrongly stating that the terror suspect was handcuffed in the video that sparked his incendiary row with the Met boss.

It is too early to tell how all this will affect Thursday’s elections.

Many voters disillusioned with Labour and the Conservatives are still looking for an alternative.

But after riding a wave of optimism in the wake of Mr Polanski's election as leader, this is the last place the party will want to be in just hours before millions of people enter voting booths across the country.

We’re former No 10 insiders – ask us anything about Labour’s future, Reform, the Greens

10:31 , Holly Evans

In The Room hosts and former Whitehall insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson answer your questions on local elections, Keir Starmer’s future, the Mandelson files, civil service drama, and whether Nigel Farage could really be our next prime minister.

Join us below on Wednesday 6 May between 1pm and 2pm for the Q&A.

We’re former No 10 insiders – ask us anything about Labour’s future

Polanski stresses he and Jeremy Corbyn are 'very different people' over antisemitism row

10:25 , Holly Evans

Jeremy Corbyn put forward a lot of “really positive” ideas for governing the country, Green leader Zack Polanski said.

As Green Party candidates face accusations of antisemitism, Mr Polanski was asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme how he would avoid becoming a new version of Mr Corbyn, whose Labour Party faced a similar crisis.

He said: “I think me and Jeremy are very different people, and there’s much… you know, the question was almost inviting me to condemn Jeremy Corbyn.

“I think there was lots that Jeremy Corbyn was putting forward to this country that I think was really positive. We’ve talked about wealth taxes, about public ownership.

“I also think it’s important, speaking for myself right now, that we make sure that we have this vetting process, that it’s really clear that antisemitism, Islamophobia, any form of hatred or hate crime, is not welcome in the Green Party.”

Mr Polanski also told the BBC he was “not ready right now” to be prime minister but said he had learned a lot of political skills and knowledge since winning the Green leadership, adding that he would “certainly be putting in the work” over the next few years.

What are the polls saying for Labour, Reform and the Greens?

10:22 , Holly Evans

Voters in England will head to the polls on 7 May to cast their votes with more than 5,000 council seats up for grabs, as pollsters predict a disastrous result for Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.

The prime minister is facing a local election wipeout in just over a week, with some experts predicting the party could see its worst-ever result.

Both Reform and the Greens are forecast to be the big winners at the event, as opinion polling shows discontent with both Labour and the Conservatives growing.

Here is what pollsters at the University of Exeter’s Elections Centre are predicting:

Local elections 2026: What are the polls saying for Labour, Reform and the Greens?

Polanski wrongly claims Golders Green terror suspect was handcuffed in video that sparked row with Met Police

10:19 , Holly Evans

Zack Polanski has incorrectly claimed that the Golders Green terror suspect was handcuffed in a video that sparked an incendiary row between the Green leader and the Metropolitan Police.

In an interview on the BBC’s Today programme, Mr Polanski said he was “traumatised by seeing someone handcuffed and repeatedly kicked in the head”.

But the video, widely circulated online, clearly shows the man, on the floor after being Tasered, but not in handcuffs, with officers grappling to get something out of his hands.

Read the full article here:

Polanski wrongly claims terror suspect was handcuffed in video that sparked row

Greens are taking action to tackle antisemitism, Polanski says

10:16 , Holly Evans

Zack Polanski said his party was taking action to tackle antisemitism.

Confronted with a series of comments made by his candidates, the Green leader told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Those messages are all unacceptable, and it’s important to condemn that.

“The Green Party are an anti-racist party and it’s important that we stick to our values.”

He said there would be a “standardised vetting process” in future, with compulsory training for candidates, “to make it clear that antisemitism is completely unwelcome in the Green Party, as it is in society”.

“It is also important to say one case of antisemitism is one too many. This is a handful of cases and actually we have over 4,500 candidates, the vast, vast majority of which are doing amazing work in their communities right now,” he said.

Zack Polanski has said the antisemitic comments made by candidates are 'unacceptable' (Reuters)

Polanski admits he was wrong to describe himself as Red Cross spokesperson

10:14 , Holly Evans

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has acknowledged he was wrong to say he was a spokesperson for the British Red Cross.

The Green Party leader made the claim as he campaigned to become its deputy leader back in 2022, which was first reported in The Times newspaper on Tuesday.

Asked about the claim by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Polanski said: “I hosted various fundraisers for the British Red Cross, and indeed I would go on stage and speak for them about the amazing work they do tackling humanitarian crises, on the climate crisis, and indeed, for refugees all around the world.

“I used the wrong word, and I accept that, but I would essentially take words on stage with me and speak.

“It’s important, though, and I accept this, that they don’t support any political party, and I’ve made sure that’s been taken down.”

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