Polanski Releases Urdu Video for London By-Election
Polanski Releases Urdu Video for London By-Election
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Key Points
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Polanski’s Urdu video was posted on the Green Party’s Bold Politics podcast channel on X and urged voters to support the Greens in the October 8 by-election.
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Census figures cited in the coverage show that about 22% of Holborn and St Pancras residents identify as Asian—more than twice the national figure of 9%—while roughly 20% identify as Muslim.
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Helen Whately, the Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary, said politicians should campaign in the UK’s “languages of public life” and argued that people living in Britain should learn English to be integrated into society.
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The Urdu video was presented as part of the Greens’ effort to build on momentum from the May local elections while challenging Labour in the parliamentary seat vacated by Keir Starmer.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski released an Urdu-language campaign video for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, aiming to reach the constituency's diverse voters. The Independent reported that the video, posted on the Green Party's Bold Politics podcast channel, prompted pushback from Conservative politicians who argued UK campaigning should stick to English.
The move highlighted the demographic makeup of the area: census data shows about 22% of residents identify as Asian—more than twice the national average of 9%—while roughly 20% identify as Muslim. The London Economic noted that London Mayor Sadiq Khan later poked fun at the campaign by responding to Polanski in Urdu during a London Assembly meeting.
Conservatives Criticize Multilingual Campaign Strategy
Conservative politicians challenged Polanski's use of Urdu in political messaging. Hertfordshire Advertiser noted that Helen Whately, the Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary, argued politicians should campaign in the UK's "languages of public life." Whately suggested that people living in Britain should learn English to integrate fully into society.
Critics framed the multilingual approach as divisive and questioned whether it aligned with standard parliamentary campaign practice. The controversy underscored broader debates about language, integration, and political inclusion in British elections.
Greens Defend Language-Inclusive Democracy
The Green Party defended Polanski's strategy, arguing that democracy should not exclude voters based on language preference. Party officials stated that bilingual voters deserve to be addressed in languages they understand. The Urdu video was part of a broader effort to build momentum from May local elections and challenge Labour in the seat vacated by Keir Starmer.
Polanski Expands Outreach With French Video
Following the Urdu video, Polanski released a French-language campaign video, further broadening the outreach effort across the constituency's linguistic communities. East Renn News and Evening Standard both covered the expanded multilingual push. Polanski reportedly included a humorous apology for his French pronunciation, adding levity to the campaign messaging while continuing to target non-English speakers.
Diverse Demographics Shape Campaign Messaging
Holborn and St Pancras's composition—with Asian residents comprising roughly 22% of the population and Muslim residents around 20%—makes it significantly more diverse than the national average. This demographic profile informed the Green Party's decision to campaign in languages beyond English. The October 8 by-election represents a test of whether language-targeted appeals can mobilize traditionally underrepresented voter groups in parliamentary elections.
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