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REWRITTEN AFTER PUBLISHINGThursday 17 September 2026

theguardian.com changed its headline after publishing.

Tories challenge chancellor to rule out tax risesKhan addresses Polanski in budgetUrdu at London assembly , mocking Green leader ’ s byelection video – as Badenoch labelled ‘ embarrassment ’ for Bank of England gaffe – UK politics liveit happened

London mayor Sadiq Khan mocked Green Party leader Zack Polanski during London Assembly question time on Thursday by responding to him in Urdu…

theguardian.com as captured

As published

4 pages captured at the time, in each outlet's own typography. Open one to read the copy held outside the publisher's control.

dailymail.com as published: Sadiq Khan mocks Zack Polanski by answering him in Urdu after Green leader released by-election campaign video in South Asian languagedailymail.com2026-09-18 11:56:11independent.co.uk as published: Sadiq Khan mocks Zack Polanski by speaking to him in Urduindependent.co.uk2026-09-18 11:56:11standard.co.uk as published: Sadiq Khan pokes fun at Zack Polanski's by-election campaign video by speaking to him in Urdustandard.co.uk2026-09-18 11:56:11theguardian.com as published: Khan addresses Polanski in Urdu at London assembly, mocking Green leader’s byelection video – as it happenedtheguardian.com2026-09-18 11:56:11

Attributed to no one

Quoted verbatim from each outlet's own page. This site records what was published and who it was attributed to. It does not assess whether the claim is true.

independent.co.uk

  • But he was condemned for the video, after critics pointed out there were relatively few speakers of the language in the north London constituency.

named elsewhere in the same article: Sadiq Khan (as subject of action, not quotation)

standard.co.uk

  • which came under fire from some MPs who argued that political videos should be conducted strictly 'in the language of public life'.

named elsewhere in the same article: Sadiq Khan (as subject of action); Jonathan Reynolds; Katie Lam

theguardian.com

  • others have argued that the video was a bit pointless anway.

named elsewhere in the same article: Sadiq Khan (as subject of action); Zack Polanski (as subject of observation); Zack Polanski

What this entry found

  • THE SAME WORDS, PRINTED DIFFERENTLY

    2 outlets quote this line 2 different ways.

    • independent.co.uk: “I thought as the member is so proficient in Urdu, that I would speak in Urdu”
    • standard.co.uk: “I thought chair that as the member is so proficient in Urdu, I would speak in Urdu,”
  • CONFIRMED

    “Tories challenge chancellor to rule out tax rises in budget as Badenoch labelled ‘embarrassment’ for Bank of England gaffe – UK politics live”. Current: “Khan…

    Checked against sellmefear headline capture record.

  • OUTLETS DISAGREE

    Whether Polanski asked his question during Wednesday's meeting or Thursday's question time session

    • standard.co.uk says Wednesday
    • theguardian.com says Thursday
    • dailymail.com says Thursday
    • independent.co.uk says Thursday
    the full text
  • OUTLETS DISAGREE

    Whether Khan's Urdu response occurred when Polanski asked his initial question or during a follow-up question

    • theguardian.com states Khan replied in English to advance question, then in Urdu…
    • other outlets' descriptions are ambiguous
    the full text

1 further finding below ↓

4independent outlets
What happened, for context

London mayor Sadiq Khan mocked Green Party leader Zack Polanski during London Assembly question time on Thursday by responding to him in Urdu, referencing Polanski's recent by-election campaign video in the same language. Polanski is standing in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on 8 October following ex-PM Keir Starmer's resignation as the constituency's MP.

Who reported it

    • dailymail.comINDEP
    • standard.co.ukINDEP
    one owner · DMGT (Daily Mail)
  • independent.co.ukINDEP
  • theguardian.comINDEP

References

  • dailymail.comSadiq Khan mocks Zack Polanski by answering him in Urdu after Green leader released by-election campaign video in South Asian languageScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-18T11:56:11
  • independent.co.ukSadiq Khan mocks Zack Polanski by speaking to him in UrduScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-18T11:56:11
  • standard.co.ukSadiq Khan pokes fun at Zack Polanski's by-election campaign video by speaking to him in UrduScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-18T11:56:11
  • theguardian.comKhan addresses Polanski in Urdu at London assembly, mocking Green leader’s byelection video – as it happenedScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-18T11:56:11

Carried by multiple outlets

  • Sadiq Khan answered Zack Polanski in Urdu during London Assembly question time on Thursdaydailymail.com, independent.co.uk, standard.co.uk, theguardian.com
  • Polanski is a Green Party leader and member of the London Assemblydailymail.com, independent.co.uk, theguardian.com
  • Polanski recently released a by-election campaign video in Urdudailymail.com, independent.co.uk, standard.co.uk, theguardian.com
  • Polanski is standing in the by-election for Holborn and St Pancrasdailymail.com, independent.co.uk, theguardian.com
  • The by-election was triggered by Keir Starmer's resignation as the constituency's MPdailymail.com, independent.co.uk
  • Khan made a joke about speaking Urdu because Polanski appeared proficient in itdailymail.com, independent.co.uk, standard.co.uk
  • and 3 more, not shown

Reported by one outlet only

  • Khan's parents came to the UK from Pakistanonly theguardian.com
  • Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said voters should be able to understand what candidates are saying and that the video made him feel 'uncomfortable'only standard.co.uk
  • Tory shadow communities secretary Katie Lam branded Polanski's campaign video as 'poisonous'only standard.co.uk
  • Khan initially replied to Polanski's question in English before switching to Urdu for follow-up remarksonly theguardian.com
  • Polanski did not appear to understand Khan's Urdu responseonly theguardian.com
  • Polanski complained that Khan was taking up time he wanted to devote to the climate crisisonly theguardian.com

Reported unevenly

  • Whether Polanski asked his question during Wednesday's meeting or Thursday's question time sessionstated by standard.co.uk says Wednesday, theguardian.com says Thursday, dailymail.com says Thursday, independent.co.uk says Thursday · absent from standard.co.uk says 'Wednesday's meeting' while other outlets indicate Thursday
  • Whether Khan's Urdu response occurred when Polanski asked his initial question or during a follow-up questionstated by theguardian.com states Khan replied in English to advance question, then in Urdu to follow-up, other outlets' descriptions are ambiguous
  • The exact date of the by-electionstated by independent.co.uk states '8 October' · absent from dailymail.com says 'next month's by-election' without specifying date

Not yet confirmed against a primary source

  • Confirm which day the London Assembly question time session occurred: standard.co.uk states 'Wednesday's meeting' while dailymail.com, independent.co.uk, and theguardian.com reference 'Thursday'. The note states one headline was edited after publication; determine if this affected date reporting.
  • Confirm whether Khan replied in Urdu to Polanski's initial submitted question or only to follow-up questions: theguardian.com's account differs from the implied timeline in other outlets.

What was checked, and against what

1 of 1 confirmed against a primary source. Every document is linked so you can read the same record we did. Anything not confirmed is listed as such rather than left out.

  • checked The note states one headline was edited after publication; determine if this affected date reporting.sellmefear headline capture record · establishes that the outlet published it · theguardian.com was edited after publication. Earlier: “Tories challenge chancellor to rule out tax rises in budget as Badenoch labelled ‘embarrassment’ for Bank of England gaffe – UK politics live”. Current: “Khan addresses Polanski in Urdu at London assembly, mocking Green leader’s byelection video – as it happened”. · 2026-09-18