Labour selects former refugee to contest Starmer’s old seat
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Labour party members in Holborn and St Pancras, a district in north London, chose Sagal Abdi-Wali as their candidate for an upcoming byelection.
Abdi-Wali arrived in the UK from Somalia as a child during the 1990s and later became the leader of Camden council after being elected in May. She previously served as chair of the local Labour party and as a councillor starting in 2022.
Abdi-Wali said she felt grateful for the opportunity to build a life in the UK and intends to focus her campaign on community needs. She has a history of volunteer work with local charities and currently serves as a governor for two schools in the area. The byelection was triggered by Keir Starmer’s resignation from the seat following his departure as prime minister. Zack Polanski, leader of the Green party, is likely to compete against Abdi-Wali for the seat.
The Greens have seen increasing support recently, but Polanski’s campaign has faced some setbacks. The byelection is scheduled for October 8 and will test Labour’s strength under the current government. Last week, a spokesperson for the Reform party questioned Abdi-Wali’s British nationality, prompting accusations of racism from Labour.
