Zack Polanski sparks fresh row after releasing new campaign video in Bengali just days after Urdu stunt

By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-19 21:00:43 | Updated at 2026-09-20 01:20:19 4 hours ago

Zack Polanski has sparked a fresh row after releasing a new campaign video in Bengali just days after his Urdu stunt.

The Greens leader threw his hat in the ring by standing to replace Sir Keir Starmer in the upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras.

In his latest video shared online, the former amateur hynotherapist continued his apparent affinity for speaking to UK voters in foreign languages.

Camden Council has recorded Bengali as one of the most spoken languages in the area, as well as French and Spanish.

In the video, the leader said 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 October 8."

Last week, the leader nabbed headlines by speaking to the electorate in Urdu - and attempting to speak French.

Despite the elementary message, subsequent analysis showed Mr Polanski's French was littered with a multitude of spelling and grammatical errors.

Zack Polanski speaking in Bengali

Mr Polanski opted to speak to voters in Bengali this time

ZACK POLANSKI/INSTAGRAM

His initial Urdu campaign video attracted criticism, particularly after Sadiq Khan openly mocked Mr Polanski after responding to his question entirely in the foreign language.

Taking questions at the latest London Assembly session, the capital's Mayor was grilled by the Green Party leader on the use of clean water and energy supply in Britain's data centres.

Pressing Lord Khan on the issue, Mr Polanski asked in English: "Clean energy and water is essential for Londoners.

"We know that the climate crisis is getting worse, we've seen the heatwaves and the deaths we've had this summer, nearly 3,000 people estimated by the Health Security Agency."

Zack Polanski

Mr Polanski has attracted plenty of attention for the controversial tactic

"We also know that the water industry bodies have said they're concerned about the use of water, and also when we look at one data centre of one gigawatts, it could use as much electricity as two million homes.

"So my question is, would you be prepared to say no to a data centre if it didn't secure clean water and energy supply?"

Lord Khan greeted Mr Polanski with "as-salamu alaykum", before proceeding to answer his question completely in Urdu, triggering a wave of titters across the room.

Finishing his response, Lord Khan then turned to the Assembly Chair, taking further aim at Mr Polanski.

Lord Khan reverted back to English, telling the Chair: "Well, I thought, Chair, that as the member is so proficient in Urdu, I would speak in Urdu."

The Chair praised the Mayor, commending his "good pronounciation".

But, beyond jovial mockery, Mr Polanski's tendency to speak foreign languages during political campaigns has ignited a more serious debate.

Katie Lam, the Shadow Housing Secretary, accused the Green leader of deploying "poisonous" methods with the linguistic tactic.

She called for the permanent ban on foreign languages in political campaigning, adding: "Politics in our country should be conducted in the language of public life."

A mere 256 people speak Urdu as a main language in the borough of Camden, where the seat of Holborn and Pancras is found, 2021 census data revealed.