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

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 03:13 · Archive

Sagal Abdi-Wali, leader of Camden Council, has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, claiming 12,292 votes against Green Party leader Zack Polanski's 8,928. The leader of Camden Council since May 2026, Abdi-Wali is a former child refugee from Somalia. The by-election was triggered when former Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned from his seat, stating it was the "right time" to pass the responsibility to a successor. Voter turnout in Holborn and St Pancras reached 38.76 per cent, with 27,309 ballots cast, significantly lower than the 56,786 votes cast in the 2024 general election.

Abdi-Wali faced criticism from Reform's Zia Yusuf over not being born in Britain, an attack Labour branded "straightforward racism". In an interview, she condemned the "hateful rhetoric" around her selection and defended immigration.

The result poses challenges for Polanski's leadership of the Green Party. Before the verdict was announced, a Green Party spokesperson said the strong second-place finish demonstrated how far the party has come and pledged to hold Labour accountable on housing, water and climate issues. Polanski now faces growing party fallout following the party's endorsement of a motion equating Zionism with racism, which has prompted criticism from Jewish groups and the chair of Amnesty UK.

How it is being reported

• BREAKING: Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali beats Zack Polanski to win Holborn and St Pancras by-electionSagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, defeated Zack Polanski after a seismic by-election sparked by the former PM Keir Starmer quitting as an MPThe Mirror · 9 Oct, 03:02
• Who is Sagal Abdi-Wali? Labour’s candidate fighting Zack Polanski in crunch London by-electionSagal Abdi-Wali, leader of Camden Council, is Labour’s candidate in the north London by-electionEvening Standard · 8 Oct, 13:41

In this story: Sagal Abdi-Wali · Zack Polanski · Keir Starmer · Zia Yusuf · Labour · Green Party · Holborn and St Pancras · Camden Council

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