Full Breakdown
Labour selects former refugee council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali for Holborn and St Pancras by-election
9/10/2026, 8:37:58 AM
The selection and upcoming contest
Labour members at St Pancras Church in Euston chose Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali as the party’s candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, set for 8 October. Abdi-Wali, who has represented Camden Square since 2022 and became council leader in May 2026, will seek to retain the seat vacated by Sir Keir Starmer after his 1 September 2026 announcement that he was standing down as an MP.
Background to the vacancy
Starmer had held the constituency since 2015, winning it with 48.9 % of the vote in the 2024 general election and a majority of over 11,000 votes. His resignation triggered the first parliamentary by-election since Andy Burnham became prime minister six weeks earlier. Labour has held the inner-London seat continuously since its creation in 1983.
Key candidates
- Sagal Abdi-Wali – Labour; former child refugee from Somalia, Camden Council leader.
- Zack Polanski – Green Party leader in England and Wales, London Assembly member.
- Hamza Chowdhury – Green councillor on Camden Council.
- Zia Yusuf – Reform UK home-affairs spokesperson.
- Liam Conlon – Labour MP and campaign lead for the by-election.
Timeline
- 1 September 2026 – Starmer announces he will stand down.
- Late August 2026 – Labour selection meeting; Abdi-Wali selected.
- Early September 2026 – Greens begin internal nomination; Polanski and Chowdhury emerge as contenders.
- 8 October 2026 – By-election day.
Election data and past results
- 2024 general election: Starmer 48.9 % (Labour), Greens 10.4 %, Conservatives 7.2 %, Reform UK 6.1 %.
- May 2026 local elections saw the Greens gain seats on Camden Council, though Labour retained overall control.
Official statements & responses
Labour campaign lead Liam Conlon described Abdi-Wali as “a fantastic local champion” with a record of revamping council homes and reducing homelessness.
The Green Party said its candidate will focus on housing, community services and Gaza, citing projected support of 30.5 % (Electoral Calculus, 1 September 2026).
Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf posted on X that the “frontrunner” was born in Somalia; Labour called the comment “straightforward racism”.
Criticism & opposition
Jonathan Reynolds, Labour’s business secretary, condemned Yusuf’s remark as racist, using the incident to rally support for Abdi-Wali.
Verbatim quotes
- “We came to this country as refugees from Somalia when I was a kid,” — Cllr Abdi-Wali
- “They don’t know what they’re doing,” — Usman Ayyub
What’s next
The writ to trigger the by-election will be moved in the Commons in the coming days, confirming 8 October as the polling date. Labour expects senior cabinet members to campaign locally, while the Greens plan intensive door-knocking and leaflet distribution throughout Holborn and St Pancras.
