Zack Polanski failed to pay council tax on £100,000 houseboat | Politics | News
Polanski admits he underpaid council tax (Image: Getty)
Zack Polanski failed to pay the correct amount of council tax on his £100,000 houseboat in London despite demanding others pay more. The Green Party leader secretly apologized late in the evening, with all eyes on No 10, in what one critic described as “surprising”. Polanski, 43, claimed it was an “inadvertent mistake” and a spokesman confirmed he had taken steps to repay the outstanding amount.
It did so only after extensive media coverage forced luxury narrowboat The Olympian to confirm that it was on the voter list at the marina where it is based. The former hypnotherapist, who once claimed he could increase the size of a woman’s bust with the power of the human mind, told the press he was only there “occasionally” when initially challenged. He has also repeatedly called for higher taxes on the rich and called on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to resign after his tax issues were called into question.
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The luxury ship was recently announced for sale, where it was described as her “magnificent home” and the glossy ad before check-in was reportedly mysteriously removed.
It is understood that the leader of the Green Party, who serves as a member of the London Assembly, has notified the authorities of his request from the City to launch an investigation into the incident.
Mr Polanski’s Conservative rivals slammed the statement, while Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused him of “staggering hypocrisy”.
He added: “Zack Polanski can’t lecture families across the country about paying more when he apparently hasn’t even fully met his own obligations.
“The British public will see this for exactly what it is. One rule for Zack Polanski, another rule for everyone else.”
According to official guidance, council tax is payable on the boat if the boat is a person’s sole or main residence.
Polanski’s boat declared his ‘home’ (Image: Getty)
That means Mr Polanski could owe three years’ tax, or around £4,000, at local rates, according to analysis by tax lawyer Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates.
A Green Party spokesperson told the Daily Mail: “Until relatively recently, Zack was living on a houseboat, which brought its own set of practical circumstances and considerations. “He immediately took steps to pay any council tax he may have owed.
“Zack sincerely apologizes for his unintentional mistake.
“For security reasons we are not commenting publicly on Zack’s address. There have been two recent serious incidents that have been reported to police and are under investigation.”
Mr Polanski may now face a shoddy investigation after critics claim he failed to abide by the “integrity, honesty, accountability and leadership” expected of councillors.
