Sadiq Khan mocked Zack Polanski by responding to him in Urdu during a London Assembly session after Polanski released a campaign video in the same language for an upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras on October 8. The exchange was political commentary on using non-English languages for campaigning; however, data from the 2021 census indicates that fewer than 1% of voters in the constituency speak Urdu, with far more speaking French (2,488 people).
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, mocked Zack Polanski, a Green Party leader running for MP in Holborn and St Pancras, by responding to him in Urdu during the London Assembly's Mayor's Question Time on Thursday. This came after Polanski released a campaign video addressing voters in Urdu earlier that week. Khan joked about his proficiency with the language, saying he feared Polanski might ask questions in Urdu. The exchange was seen as a lighthearted response to criticism from some MPs who argued political videos should be conducted "in the language of public life." Despite the criticism, Khan's Urdu reply received laughter from fellow assembly members and praise for his pronunciation skills.
Written for “Sadiq Khan Mocks Campaign Video” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
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The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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stored, so you can find it in the original.
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Attempting to appeal to group-based grievances by campaigning in foreign languages is poisonous.
right criticizes use of non-English languages in politics as divisive
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'We must ban this practice for good. Politics in our country should be conducted in the language of public life.'
right calls for a ban on campaigning in foreign languages, emphasizing English as the official language
Leaning score +0.35 for article 15985 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-17
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Sadiq Khan today mocked Zack Polanski by answering his question in the London Assembly in Urdu.
The London mayor used the South Asian language to respond to the Green Party leader after Mr Polanski recently spoke it in a by-election campaign video.
Mr Polanski is a member of the London Assembly but is hoping to soon be elected to the House of Commons as MP for Holborn and St Pancras.
asserted
Polanski → see → Holborn
He is standing in next month's by-election in the north London constituency, which was triggered by the resignation of ex-prime minister Keir Starmer as the local MP.
asserted
which → stand → MP
'I thought as the member is so proficient in Urdu that I would speak in Urdu,' Lord Khan said, after he used the language to reply to Mr Polanski at Mayor's Question Time on Thursday.
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he → think → Thursday
The Labour politician added: 'I was worried the question may be in Urdu.
uncertain
question → add → Urdu
And for those Urdu speakers, I apologise if I spoke with a Russian accent.
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I → apologise → accent
The exchange came after Mr Polanski this week released a by-election campaign video in which he addressed Holborn and St Pancras voters in Urdu.
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he → come → Urdu
Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and is spoken across South Asia.
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Urdu → speak → Asia
Sadiq Khan today mocked Zack Polanski by answering his question in the London Assembly in Urdu
The London mayor used the South Asian language to respond to the Green Party leader after Mr Polanski recently spoke it in a by-election campaign video
In the by-election video, Mr Polanski urged local residents to vote for him as the Green candidate at the Westminster contest on 8 October.
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Polanski → mock → October
He later released a campaign video in French in an apparent attempt to troll critics – including Tory shadow ministers – of his previous video in Urdu.
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He → release → Urdu
The Green leader appealed for people in the north London seat to 'votez pour les verts' next month.
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people → appeal → seat
By switching to French, Mr Polanski used a language spoken by far more people in Holborn and St Pancras than speak Urdu.
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Polanski → switch → Urdu
Figures from the 2021 census show there were 2,488 with French as their main language in the constituency, compared to just 156 who spoke Urdu.
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who → show → Urdu
Urdu is spoken primarily in Pakistan and India, but just 3 per cent of the population of Holborn and St Pancras are Indian and less than 1 per cent are Pakistani.
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cent → speak → Holborn
In response to Mr Polanski's by-election video in Urdu, Tory local government spokesman Katie Lam tweeted: 'Here's the leader of the Green Party, campaigning in Urdu.
'
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leader → tweet → Urdu
Attempting to appeal to group-based grievances by campaigning in foreign languages is poisonous.
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Attempting → attempt → languages
'We must ban this practice for good.
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We → ban → practice
Politics in our country should be conducted in the language of public life.'
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Politics → conduct → life
Fellow Tory MP Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, told Times Radio: 'I'm concerned to see this campaigning in other languages.
'
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this → tell → languages
Politicians should be campaigning in the languages of the United Kingdom.
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Politicians → campaign → Kingdom
So for instance in London, I'd be expecting the candidates to be campaigning in English, not in other languages.'
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candidates → expect → languages
A Green Party spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'The Greens believe that democracy doesn't discriminate by languages spoken.
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democracy → tell → languages
Holborn and St Pancras is a true reflection of the diversity of London and of our country and we choose to embrace and celebrate that.
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we → choose → that
'If we want to speak to people who speak Urdu, it makes sense to speak to them in Urdu.
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it → want → Urdu
We're proud to reach voters in as many languages as possible.
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We → reach → languages
Sir Keir resigned as MP for Holborn and St Pancras at the beginning of this month, despite him having previously said he would stay in the Commons until the next UK general election, which is not due until 2029.
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which → resign → 2029
Mr Polanski is hoping to build on the Greens' momentum from the May local elections, which saw the party placed second behind Labour in council wards within the constituency.
uncertain
party → hop → constituency
He is likely to be the most serious electoral threat to Labour's dominance in the seat, which the party has held since it was created in 1983.
asserted
it → hold → 1983
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