# Sadiq Khan mocks Zack Polanski with Urdu reply > London mayor answers Green leader's Urdu campaign video in South Asian language. - Title: Sadiq Khan mocks Zack Polanski with Urdu reply · Dailymail - Summary: London mayor answers Green leader's Urdu campaign video in South Asian language. Sadiq Khan responded to Zack Polanski's Urdu by-election campaign video by… - Keywords: sadiq khan, zack polanski, green party, london assembly, urdu, by-election, holborn st pancras, uk politics, news, entertainment, Sadiq, Khan - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16139041/I-thought-youre-fluent-Sadiq-Khan-mocks-Zack-Polanski-answering-Urdu-Green-leader-released-election-campaign-video-South-Asian-language.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-09-17T12:36:08+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: sadiq khan, zack polanski, green party, london assembly, urdu, by-election, holborn st pancras, uk politics, news, entertainment ## Sadiq Khan mocks Zack Polanski Sadiq Khan mocked Zack Polanski by answering his question in Urdu during London Assembly session. > I thought as the member is so proficient in Urdu that I would speak in Urdu ## Green leader's Urdu campaign video Zack Polanski released by-election campaign video in Urdu for Holborn and St Pancras voters. > In his by-election video, Mr Polanski used Urdu to encourage local residents to vote for him ## Urdu language context Urdu is national language of Pakistan and spoken across South Asia. > Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and is spoken across South Asia ## Voter demographics Only 156 Urdu speakers in Holborn and St Pancras versus 2,488 French speakers. > 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 ## Tory response Tory officials criticized Polanski for campaigning in foreign languages. > Here's the leader of the Green Party, campaigning in Urdu. Attempting to appeal to group-based grievances by campaigning in foreign languages is poisonous. We must ban this practice for good. ## Green Party stance Green Party says democracy shouldn't discriminate by language. > The Greens believe that democracy doesn't discriminate by languages spoken. Many people are bilingual. ## Political context Keir Starmer resigned as MP for Holborn and St Pancras. > Sir Keir resigned as MP for Holborn and St Pancras at the beginning of this month ## By-election dynamics Polanski is Green Party's strongest candidate in Holborn and St Pancras seat. > He is likely to be the most serious electoral threat to Labour's dominance in the seat ## Political strategy Polanski switched to French after Urdu video to reach more voters. > He later released a campaign video in French in an apparent attempt to troll critics ## Tory criticism Tory MPs say politicians should campaign in UK languages. > Politicians should be campaigning in the languages of the United Kingdom. So for instance in London, I'd be expecting the candidates to be campaigning in English, not in other languages ## Green Party appeal Green Party emphasizes London's diversity through multilingual campaigning. > 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 ## Political stakes By-election could shift power in London's north constituency. > The seat has been held by Labour since it was created in 1983 ## Political context Zack Polanski is Green Party candidate for Holborn and St Pancras. > 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 ## Political reaction Tory ex-Cabinet minister James Cleverly praised Khan's Urdu response. > Fair play. This is funny ## Political strategy Polanski used Urdu to target South Asian voters in London. > In his by-election video, Mr Polanski used Urdu to encourage local residents to vote for him as the Green candidate at the Westminster contest on October 8 ## Political context By-election triggered by Keir Starmer's resignation. > 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 ## Key takeaway Sadiq Khan responded to Zack Polanski's Urdu by-election campaign video by speaking Urdu himself during a London Assembly session.