Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has added Bengali to his multilingual campaigning ahead of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on 8 October, triggered by the resignation of former prime minister Keir Starmer. The move follows his earlier videos speaking Urdu and French, and comes as Camden Council confirms Bengali is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the constituency, alongside French and Spanish. Polanski’s linguistic pivot is part of a broader effort to directly address residents in their native tongues, even as he faces ridicule from London Mayor Sadiq Khan over his Urdu attempt and criticism from opposition MPs.
Polanski’s Linguistic Pitch
In a video posted to Instagram, Polanski addressed prospective voters in Bengali: “I’m Zack Polanski and I’m standing to be the MP for Holborn and St Pancras. The Green Party has forced Labour to change some of their most unpopular policies. Vote Green on 8th October.” According to Camden Council data, Bengali, French, and Spanish are among the top non-English languages spoken in the area, making the constituency one of the most linguistically diverse in London. The Green Party leader has made language a centrepiece of his canvassing strategy, believing that speaking directly to communities in their own language cuts through political messaging and builds genuine trust on the doorstep.
Khan’s Urdu Retort and the Row It Sparked
The Bengali clip was uploaded shortly after Polanski was mocked by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for a previous video in which he spoke Urdu. When Polanski asked Khan a question about the climate crisis during a London Assembly session, Khan responded in Urdu, saying: “I thought as the member is so proficient in Urdu that I would speak in Urdu.” The exchange prompted a swift response from Conservative MP Katie Lam, who posted on social media: “We must ban parties from campaigning in foreign languages. It’s both divisive and dishonest. It fuels group-based grievance politics.” Lam, the MP for Weald and Kent, argued that multilingual campaigning risks alienating voters and reducing political discourse to identity-based appeals. Polanski’s team dismissed the criticism, insisting that engaging with London’s multicultural fabric is not a gimmick but a reflection of the capital’s reality.
The Stakes of the Holborn and St Pancras By-Election
The by-election is widely seen as a head-to-head contest between Polanski and the Labour candidate, Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali. A win for the Greens would increase their parliamentary total to six, following an earlier by-election victory in Gorton and Denton earlier this year. Political analysts note that the seat’s demographic profile—high student populations, significant ethnic minority communities, and a strong history of progressive voting—makes it a natural target for the Greens, who have been steadily gaining ground in urban boroughs. The result could signal whether the party’s recent momentum is sustainable or merely a reaction to specific local issues.
Political Ramifications and the Burnham Factor
Labour sources have told The Independent that the by-election serves as a test run for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to decide whether to trigger an early general election. With Polanski now standing in Starmer’s former seat, Labour strategists around Burnham view the contest as a clear indicator of whether the change of leadership has dampened the rising threat from the Green Party. A party source said: “Because Keir’s seat was a target and Polanski is running in it, this gives the PM a perfect opportunity to see if the Green threat has gone with a change of leader. We are seeing people come back [from the Greens] to Labour. Under Keir, there was no doubt that we were losing lots of supporters and party members to the Greens.” The outcome may influence not only Labour’s internal calculus but also the broader perception of the party’s electoral durability in its heartlands.
Why it Matters
The Holborn and St Pancras by-election transcends a single parliamentary seat; it is a barometer for how Britain’s progressive vote is reshaping itself in the capital’s most diverse constituencies. Polanski’s gamble on multilingual outreach reflects a growing recognition that traditional English-only campaigning no longer suffices in a city where over 300 languages are spoken. Whether the Greens can convert linguistic inclusivity into electoral gains, and whether Labour can stem the tide of voter defection under its new leadership, will likely dictate the tone of national politics in the months ahead. The result may also set a precedent for how mainstream parties engage with London’s multicultural electorate in future contests.
