Green Party leader Zack Polanski released a campaign video in Bengali on Saturday, September 19, seeking support for the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election. The video is the third in a series where Polanski has addressed voters in different languages, including previous messages delivered in Urdu and French. The by-election, scheduled for October 8, was triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier in September.
Polanski's choice of languages aligns with local demographics identified by Camden Council, which lists Bengali and French as two of the most commonly spoken languages in the district. In the social media video, Polanski identified himself as a candidate and stated that the Green Party has influenced the Labour Party to alter specific policies. He concluded the message by requesting votes for the October 8 election date.
The multi-lingual campaign strategy has drawn varied reactions. Earlier in the week of September 14, London Mayor Sadiq Khan responded to a climate crisis question from Polanski by speaking in Urdu, citing Polanski's reported proficiency in the language. Additionally, Conservative MP Katie Lam (Weald and Kent) called for a ban on political campaigning in foreign languages, describing the practice as divisive and stating it encourages grievance politics.
For the Green Party, a victory on October 8 would increase their representation in Parliament to six MPs, following a separate by-election win in Gorton and Denton earlier this year. Labour strategists reported that under the previous leadership, the party lost members and supporters to the Greens. This election will serve as a measure of whether those voters are returning to Labour under the current administration.
The contest is seen as a head-to-head between Polanski and the Labour candidate, Sagal Abdi-Wali, who serves as the leader of Camden Council. Residents who are registered to vote in the district will see the direct impact of this political transition through their representation in the House of Commons. The final results and their implications for national election timing will be determined following the close of polls on October 8.