Key facts
- Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia and leader of Camden council, will be Labour's candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras byelection.
- The seat was vacated by Keir Starmer.
- Abdi-Wali previously served as chair of the local constituency Labour party and was elected a Labour councillor in 2022.
- Zia Yusuf of Reform UK faced accusations of racism for questioning Abdi-Wali's nationality.
- The Greens are likely to endorse Zack Polanski as their candidate.
- The byelection is scheduled for October 8.
Sagal Abdi-Wali, who arrived in the UK from Somalia as a child and now leads Camden council, has been selected by the Labour Party to contest the Holborn and St Pancras byelection. This north London seat was formerly held by Keir Starmer, who recently stepped down.
Abdi-Wali, who previously chaired the local constituency Labour party and was elected a councillor in 2022, expressed her delight and pledged to prioritize the community in her campaign. She highlighted the UK's welcome to her family as refugees and her gratitude for the opportunity to serve, aiming to give back the hope she received.
The byelection is anticipated to be a contest between Abdi-Wali and Zack Polanski, who is expected to be the Green Party's candidate. Polanski's party has seen a surge in support and membership. The election is set for October 8.
Starmer's majority in the constituency had significantly reduced in the last general election. Abdi-Wali faced scrutiny last week when Reform UK's Zia Yusuf questioned her nationality on social media, a move Labour condemned as racist.
Labour plans a robust campaign, with cabinet members expected to visit the constituency. Liam Conlon MP, Labour's byelection campaign lead, praised Abdi-Wali as a "fantastic local champion" with a strong record on council housing, homelessness, and anti-social behavior.
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