Labour wins Holborn and St Pancras by-election with Sagal Abdi-Wali

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 05:24 · Archive

Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election with a majority of 3,364 votes over Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who finished in second place. She succeeds Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned from the seat in September after stepping down as prime minister. The leader of Camden Council was the bookies' favourite ahead of the vote.

Ms Abdi-Wali said she hoped her victory would carry a message about belonging in Britain. Speaking after her victory was announced at Camden Council's headquarters in north London, she said: 'I hope this moment also says something about who gets to belong, for people who look like me, I hope they see themselves reflected in this place and know that their path too belongs here.'

Her comments came after Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf had attacked her candidacy when she was selected. In early September, Mr Yusuf posted on social media: 'The frontrunner being foisted on the people of Holborn by Labour to replace the former prime minister Keir Starmer in our parliament was born in Somalia. Do you understand what's happening?' His comments were criticised by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds as 'straightforward racism'. Reform UK's candidate Peter Newman finished fourth with 1,612 votes, just under 6%.

How it is being reported

• Sagal Abdi-Wali says Labour by-election victory is testament to diversityNew MP for Holborn and St Pancras said she hoped her win meant people ‘like her’ would feel they belong in Britain.Evening Standard · 9 Oct, 05:01
• Sagal Abdi-Wali's victory speech after by-election winThe newly elected Labour MP told the crowd, "whether you voted for me or not my commitment to this community runs deep".BBC Politics · 9 Oct, 04:24

In this story: Sagal Abdi-Wali · Keir Starmer · Zack Polanski · Zia Yusuf · Jonathan Reynolds · Labour · Reform UK · Holborn and St Pancras

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