Khan answers Polanski in Urdu at Mayor's Question Time
Sadiq Khan responded to Zack Polanski in Urdu during a London Assembly session, after the Green Party leader released a by-election campaign video in the South Asian language.
Sadiq Khan answered a question from Green Party leader Zack Polanski in Urdu during Mayor's Question Time, in a light-hearted exchange that followed the release of a by-election campaign video in the same language.
The London mayor told the assembly he had chosen to reply in Urdu because he understood Polanski to be proficient in the language. «I thought as the member is so proficient in Urdu, that I would speak in Urdu,» Khan said, according to accounts of the session.
The moment came after Polanski, who leads the Greens in London, produced a campaign video in Urdu ahead of a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. The video was intended to reach South Asian voters in the constituency, where Urdu is among the most widely spoken community languages.
Khan's response was widely interpreted as a gentle mocking of the Green leader's linguistic efforts. By switching to Urdu himself, the mayor highlighted the political symbolism of the video while also demonstrating his own familiarity with the language.
The exchange took place during a formal sitting of the London Assembly, where the mayor takes questions from assembly members on a regular basis. Such sessions often combine policy scrutiny with occasional moments of political theatre, and the Urdu reply quickly drew attention beyond the chamber.
Polanski's campaign video was released as part of the Green Party's push in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. The constituency has a significant South Asian population, and the use of Urdu was seen as an attempt to engage voters in their first language.
Khan, who served as mayor since 2016, has previously spoken about the importance of London's diversity and has himself used community languages in public settings. His decision to answer in Urdu was therefore not entirely unexpected, though the timing and context gave it a sharper political edge.
The by-election in Holborn and St Pancras is expected to be closely contested, with the Greens seeking to build on recent electoral gains in London. Polanski's leadership has focused on environmental issues, housing and social justice, and the campaign video formed part of a broader effort to broaden the party's appeal.
Neither Khan nor Polanski has issued a formal statement about the exchange. The mayor's office did not comment further, and the Green Party has not responded publicly to the mayor's Urdu reply.
The incident reflects a wider trend in British politics where language and cultural identity are increasingly used as tools of outreach, particularly in urban constituencies with diverse electorates. It also underscores the personal rivalry between Khan and Polanski, who represent different parties and competing visions for London.
For voters in Holborn and St Pancras, the by-election will be decided on local and national issues, but the Urdu exchange has added a memorable footnote to the campaign. It remains to be seen whether the moment will have any measurable impact on the contest.
