'Polish Pride': Aristocrat prince John Zylinski launches new party for EU citizens

A Polish prince who put himself forward as candidate for London Mayor today launched a new political party aimed at representing Britain’s EU citizens.

Millionaire aristocrat John Zylinski plans to field 100 candidates representing his party “Polish Pride” in parts of London with a large Polish population.

His flagship policies include calling for a new criminal offence of “Europhobia” to combat specific hate crimes over Brexit.

“I think I’m the ideal candidate to use my Polish army to protect and support all the minorities, and in fact all the communities,” he told the Standard. “We’ve touched a nerve here… we’ve found the G-spot of the Polish people.”

Prince Zylinski said that it was not just a party for Poles, adding that he hoped the party would galvanise voters from across the EU and the UK. Unlike in general elections, EU citizens are eligible to vote in the local elections due to be held on May 3.

The property millionaire and son of a Polish war hero said: “I have a sensitivity to the needs of all communities, because fundamentally they all have the same issues.

“I don’t want anybody to think this is a nationalist movement; it’s just we’re the largest community so it’s kind of our responsibility to look after the others.”

Despite failing in a bid to become London Mayor in 2016 - coming in 11th place - Prince Zylinski said he is now confident his party can win council seats in the capital.

He plans to target areas with large Polish communities, such as Ealing.

“I intend to field up to 100 candidates in targeted wards in London where candidates can win seats by polling little more than two thousand votes,” he said.

“I believe we can achieve this by appealing not only to Poles, but by gaining broad support from all voters who back our call for respect for all minorities.”

Prince Zylinski, who once challenged Nigel Farage to a duel over comments about immigration by the former Ukip leader, said he plans to offer a voice to EU citizens who he claims are struggling to find work since the Brexit vote due to fears over their right to remain in the UK.

And he also called for a “huge memorial to the Polish pilots who saved this country in the Battle of Britain.”

More than 140 Polish pilots fought in the battle, and Tory peers Lords Michael Ashcroft and Norman Tebbit have both voiced their support for a £1 million memorial to them in Hyde Park.