Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee and the current leader of Camden council, has been selected as the Labour candidate for the by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. Abdi-Wali, who arrived in the UK from Somalia as a child in the 1990s, was elected leader of Camden council in May and previously served as chair of the local constituency Labour party.
The by-election is scheduled for 8 October to fill the north London seat vacated by Keir Starmer. Abdi-Wali stated she was “delighted” by her selection, promising to prioritise the community in her campaign. She said, “This place welcomed my family as refugees and gave us hope when we needed it most.”
Abdi-Wali is expected to face Zack Polanski, who has announced his intention to contest the seat for the Greens. Local Greens in Holborn and St Pancras are yet to formally select their candidate, with the process due to be completed next Friday.