Zack Polanski was left red-faced at City Hall this morning after Sadiq Khan answered a question from the Green leader in Urdu. In a cringeworthy bid to woo Muslim voters across the country, Polanski this week released a campaign video for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in which he butchered Pakistan’s national language. Fewer than 200 people in the constituency use Urdu as their main language, but the Green leader evidently thought his linguistic gymnastics would establish him as a better voice for Muslims than the actual Muslim Labour candidate running for the seat.
Today, the Mayor of London decided to put Polanski’s newfound proficiency to the test. During Mayor’s questions, the Green leader asked whether City Hall would ban new data centres and underperforming water companies. Lord Khan duly delivered his answer in Urdu – giving Polanski an opportunity to demonstrate whether his command of the language extended beyond a campaign script.
His words translated to: ‘Peace be upon you. I was worried that you would ask the question in Urdu, but you asked your question in English. I’ll be spending time in Holborn and St Pancras this week and I’m going to be there. Maybe, maybe we will meet there.’
Khan then switched to English to explain: ‘I thought Chair that given the member is so proficient in Urdu, I would speak in Urdu. For those Urdu speakers I apologise if I spoke in a Russian accent.’
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