Key facts
- Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali is running in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
- Abdi-Wali stated her ambition is to be the Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras, not to lead the party or country.
- The by-election is scheduled for October 8.
- The constituency is young, diverse, with 45% born overseas and 48% aged 18-34.
- Abdi-Wali previously served as the leader of Camden council.
- Green Party candidate Zack Polanski is focusing his campaign on issues including Gaza.
Sagal Abdi-Wali, Labour's candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, has stated her sole focus is on winning the seat and serving the local community, dismissing any aspirations for higher political leadership. The by-election, triggered by Keir Starmer's resignation from the seat, is scheduled for October 8.
Abdi-Wali, a former leader of Camden council, emphasizes her lifelong commitment to the constituency, contrasting her local focus with that of her Green Party opponent, Zack Polanski. She aims to be a visible and dedicated representative for the diverse electorate, which has a significant proportion of residents born overseas and a large young demographic.
Labour views the by-election as a crucial test of its national appeal, with victory potentially bolstering leader Andy Burnham's standing. However, the party faces a challenge in a constituency that has seen its majority shrink since Starmer's initial win in 2015.
The Green Party, led by Polanski, is actively campaigning on issues such as the conflict in Gaza, criticizing Labour's stance and attempting to mobilize voters. Abdi-Wali, while welcoming the UK government's sanctions on Israeli settlements, has largely steered clear of engaging directly with the Greens' campaign tactics, attributing her absence from a recent hustings to a prior commitment.
Abdi-Wali's personal journey, including fleeing war in Somalia and learning English, has shaped her perspective. She joined the Labour party in 2015 after witnessing a rise in homelessness in King's Cross, believing political solutions were necessary. She is cautious about rent controls, viewing them as insufficient to address the broader housing crisis in the constituency where a majority of residents rent.