Labour has selected Sagal Abdi-Wali, a Camden Council leader who arrived in Britain as a child refugee from Somalia, to run in the upcoming by-election for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency. The election is scheduled for October 8 and is being held to fill the seat vacated by Sir Keir Starmer.
Ms. Abdi-Wali, who fled war-torn Somalia with her family in the 1990s and grew up in the area, stated her intention to "give back the hope you gave me" if elected. She has been a councillor and leader of Camden Council since May of this year. She expressed gratitude for being chosen, saying, "This place welcomed my family as refugees and gave us hope when we needed it most." She added, "I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to build a life here, serving our community as a councillor, school governor and community activist. Now I am standing to say thank you and to give back the hope you gave me."
The Holborn and St Pancras seat has been a Labour stronghold since its creation in 1983, with the party consistently securing at least 40 percent of the vote. Sir Keir Starmer held the seat with 48.9 percent in the 2024 general election.
However, Labour faces a challenge from the Green Party, which is expected to announce its candidate soon. London Assembly member Zack Polanski is seeking the nomination but is reportedly facing competition from local councillor Hamza Chowdhury. Mr. Chowdhury has made comments implying a critique of candidates who are perceived as being "parachuted in" and who may not have deep local ties. Mr. Polanski responded to this by stating he knows the constituency well and that such descriptions do not apply to him.
The Green Party has been identified as a potential significant threat in the by-election. In the 2024 general election, the Green Party candidate finished third with 10.4 percent of the vote. The previous election also saw an independent candidate secure a significant portion of the vote, suggesting potential dissatisfaction among some former Labour voters. The Green Party also saw gains in the May local elections in the London Borough of Camden.