Zack Polanski and the Council Tax Problem

May 12, 2026, 18:51
EuropePolitics

Introduction

Zack Polanski is the leader of the Green Party. He may not have paid the correct tax for his home on a boat in London.

Main Body

Mr. Polanski lived on a boat. He said he did not live there all the time. But other people say he did live there from 2023 to 2025. He must pay tax if the boat is his main home. Other politicians are angry. They want to know if Mr. Polanski was honest. They are asking the city leaders to check his work and his rules. Mr. Polanski also made a mistake about his old job. He said he worked for the Red Cross, but he only helped them raise money. Other parties say he does not tell the truth.

Conclusion

Mr. Polanski said he is sorry. He is paying the money now. City leaders are checking his behavior.

Learning

πŸ›‘ STOP AND LOOK: The 'State of Being' (Is/Are)

In this story, we see how to describe people and things right now. This is the most important part of A2 English.

The Pattern:

  • One person/thing β†’\rightarrow is
  • More than one β†’\rightarrow are

Examples from the text:

  • Zack Polanski is the leader... (1 person)
  • The boat is his main home... (1 thing)
  • Other politicians are angry... (Many people)
  • City leaders are checking... (Many people)

πŸ•’ TIME TRAVEL: Simple Past vs. Now

Notice how the words change when we talk about the past. Look at these shifts:

Now (Present)Past (Yesterday/Before)
Live β†’\rightarrow LivedHe lived on a boat.
Say β†’\rightarrow SaidHe said he is sorry.
Make β†’\rightarrow MadeHe made a mistake.

Quick Tip: To talk about the past, we often just add -ed to the end of the action word (like live β†’\rightarrow lived), but some words are 'rebels' and change completely (like say β†’\rightarrow said).

Vocabulary Learning

leader (n.)
a person who leads or commands a group
Example:The leader of the team gave a clear direction.
tax (n.)
a sum of money that must be paid to the government
Example:You have to pay tax on your income.
home (n.)
a place where you live
Example:My home is in the city.
boat (n.)
a small vessel for traveling on water
Example:We went for a walk on the boat.
lived (v.)
past tense of live
Example:She lived in a small house.
people (n.)
human beings in general
Example:Many people attended the event.
say (v.)
to speak
Example:He said he would come.
must (modal)
used to show necessity
Example:You must finish your homework.
main (adj.)
most important
Example:The main reason is cost.
politicians (n.)
people who work in politics
Example:Politicians debate policies.
angry (adj.)
feeling or showing anger
Example:She was angry when she heard the news.
want (v.)
to desire
Example:I want a new book.
honest (adj.)
truthful
Example:He is an honest person.
city (n.)
a large town
Example:I live in a big city.
check (v.)
to look at to find out
Example:Please check the documents.