London Mayor Sadiq Khan addressed London Assembly member Zack Polanski in Urdu during Mayor’s Question Time at City Hall on Thursday, September 17. The exchange referenced a campaign video released by Polanski, who is the Green Party leader, in which he spoke Urdu to seek votes for an upcoming parliamentary by-election. Khan told Polanski in Urdu that he had expected the question to be asked in that language and noted that they might meet while campaigning in the constituency later in the week.
The interaction follows Polanski's efforts to campaign for the Holborn and St Pancras seat, which became vacant following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer earlier in September. Starmer resigned despite previously stating he would remain in the House of Commons until the next UK general election, which is not due until 2029. Polanski’s use of Urdu in his campaign materials drew criticism from opponents who noted that French, rather than Urdu, is the most common foreign language spoken in that north London district.
During the Thursday session, Khan remarked in English that he chose to speak Urdu because he believed Polanski was "proficient" in the language. Khan, whose parents emigrated from Pakistan in the 1960s, has frequently discussed his Pakistani heritage; Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. Polanski had previously released a second campaign video in French following the initial criticism, though that video was also criticized for errors in its subtitles.
The use of foreign languages in local campaigning has become a point of contention. Conservative local government spokesperson Katie Lam characterized the practice as an attempt to appeal to "group-based grievances" and called for a ban on the tactic. In response, the Green Party stated that democracy should not discriminate based on language and that they intended to reach as many voters as possible.
The outcome of this by-election will determine who fills the vacancy left by the former MP, with Labour currently considered the frontrunner and the Green Party serving as the primary challenger. A person living in the constituency will notice intensified local campaigning from both parties leading up to the October vote. The use of multiple languages highlights how political parties engage with immigrant communities and non-native English speakers.
The immediate next steps include the continuation of the by-election campaign period throughout September. Voters in Holborn and St Pancras are scheduled to cast their ballots on October 8, 2026. Following the exchange at City Hall, a spokesperson for the Green Party acknowledged the mayor's use of the language, stating that "the Mayor is quite funny in Urdu." No formal legislative action regarding the proposed ban on foreign-language campaigning has been scheduled.