Key facts
- Sagal Abdi-Wali was elected as the new MP for Holborn and St Pancras, replacing Keir Starmer.
- Abdi-Wali, 43, fled war-torn Somalia as a child refugee and settled in the constituency.
- She previously served as the Labour cabinet member responsible for housing and was elected the first Black female leader of Camden council in May.
- Abdi-Wali chaired the local constituency party for four years.
- Her priorities as MP include homelessness, housing, bringing Thames Water into public ownership, and increasing youth employment opportunities.
Sagal Abdi-Wali has been elected as the new Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras, succeeding Keir Starmer. Abdi-Wali, 43, described her election as "deeply personal" in her acceptance speech, highlighting her journey from fleeing war-torn Somalia as a child refugee to representing the north London constituency where she has lived since the 1990s.
Her path to parliament is one she hopes will inspire "people who look like me," stating, "This is Camden and this is Britain." Abdi-Wali has a long history within the Labour party and the local community, having volunteered for decades and been active in local politics. She was elected to the borough council in 2022, became the Labour cabinet member responsible for housing two years later, and in May was elected the first Black female leader of Camden council. She also served as chair of the local constituency party for four years.
Friends and colleagues believe her deep roots in the constituency were key to her victory in the byelection, helping her to see off the challenge from Green party leader Zack Polanski. Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, praised Abdi-Wali's "love of Camden" and "passion for politics and public service."
Abdi-Wali's own background, including her mother's efforts to provide a stable home for her children, influenced her political priorities. She cited homelessness and housing as key issues, alongside advocating for the public ownership of Thames Water and increasing access to jobs and apprenticeships for young people. She has also been involved in community groups and served as a school governor.
While her record on housing has faced some criticism following a damning report by the housing ombudsman in November 2024, friends defended her, noting she had only been in the post for six months. Abdi-Wali also dismissed a tweet from Reform's Zia Yusuf, which Labour representatives called "clearly racist," stating it made her "even more determined to get on and do it."