London Mayor Sadiq Khan publicly mocked Green Party leader Zack Polanski during Mayor’s Question Time at City Hall on Thursday by responding to his questions entirely in Urdu, referencing a recent by-election campaign video that drew widespread political debate.
Mr Polanski, a London Assembly member who is currently campaigning to replace Sir Keir Starmer as the Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras, released a campaign video earlier this week introducing himself and urging voters to back him in the upcoming October 8 contest using Urdu. Critics quickly condemned the video, pointing out that the north London constituency has relatively few Urdu speakers. In response to criticism, Mr Polanski later released a second campaign video in French, though critics accused those subtitles of containing errors.
Assembly Clash and Reactions
During the Thursday session, Mr Polanski questioned the mayor regarding clean water and energy supplies for data centres. Mr Polanski asked whether the mayor would be prepared to reject a data centre if it failed to secure a clean water and energy supply. Mr Khan opened his reply by greeting the Green leader with “as-salamu alaykum” and continued his answer completely in Urdu, prompting an eruption of laughter from fellow assembly members.
Reverting to English, Mr Khan told the assembly chair, “Well, I thought, Chair, that as the member is so proficient in Urdu, I would speak in Urdu.” He added that he had been worried the question might also be delivered in Urdu, and joked, “For those Urdu speakers, I apologise if I spoke with a Russian accent.” His remarks drew further laughter across the room.
Labour MP Naz Shah praised the mayor’s response on social media, describing it as “pure class.” Conservative politicians offered mixed reactions; former cabinet minister James Cleverly posted on X that the exchange was “funny,” while local government spokesperson Katie Lam condemned Mr Polanski’s original video as “poisonous” and called for a ban on campaigning in foreign languages.
Demographics and Political Context
The controversy highlights differing views on campaigning methods in diverse urban areas. Census figures from 2021 indicate that Holborn and St Pancras contains 2,488 residents whose main language is French, compared to just 156 Urdu speakers. While roughly 3 per cent of the constituency’s population is Indian and less than 1 per cent is Pakistani, about 10 per cent identify as Bangladeshi, though the official language of Bangladesh is Bengali.
Defending the campaign strategy, a Green Party spokesperson stated, “The Greens believe that democracy doesn’t discriminate by languages spoken. Many people are bilingual. 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.” A spokesperson for the party also remarked that “the mayor is quite funny in Urdu.”
Did You Know? Sadiq Khan’s parents moved to England from Pakistan in the 1960s, and the London Mayor has frequently expressed pride in his Pakistani heritage, noting that Urdu is Pakistan’s national language.
Expert Insight: As the October 8 by-election approaches following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation earlier this month, candidates in Holborn and St Pancras face mounting pressure to navigate multicultural voter bases. While multilingual campaigning aims to engage diverse demographic groups, it risks becoming a focal point for wider debates about integration and the language of public life in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sadiq Khan speak Urdu in the London Assembly?
Mr Khan responded in Urdu to mock Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who had recently released a by-election campaign video addressing voters in the language.
When is the Holborn and St Pancras by-election taking place?
The by-election is scheduled for October 8, following the resignation of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer as the local MP earlier this month.
What languages were used in Mr Polanski’s campaign videos?
Mr Polanski released an initial video in Urdu, followed by a second video in French after critics questioned the relevance of Urdu in his north London constituency.
How should political campaigns engage with multilingual communities in major urban centers like London?
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