Somali-born former child refugee Sagal Abdi-Wali is tipped as a potential Labour candidate for Keir Starmer’s former Holborn and St Pancras seat.
LONDON, United Kingdom (Somali Report) — A Somali-born former child refugee is emerging as a potential Labour candidate to contest the parliamentary seat vacated by former British prime minister Keir Starmer, setting the stage for what could become a fiercely fought by-election in north London.
Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council and a former chair of Starmer's Constituency Labour Party, is considering seeking the Labour nomination for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency, according to reports in The Telegraph.
Abdi-Wali arrived in Britain from Somalia as a child refugee in the early 1990s, when her family fled civil war and famine. She has since built a political career in Camden, where she was elected as a Labour councillor in 2022 and became leader of the local authority following elections in May.
In a 2019 article, Abdi-Wali described Camden as the place where she grew up after arriving in Britain.
“Camden has been my home since I moved here with my family as a child refugee, fleeing war-torn Somalia,” she wrote, describing the area as having shaped her political beliefs and commitment to progressive values.
If selected, she would face a potentially high-profile contest for one of Labour's traditionally safest London seats.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski is also widely reported to be considering entering the race, with party sources saying the Greens intend to mount an aggressive campaign focused on the cost-of-living crisis and housing.
Polanski, who unsuccessfully sought election as a Liberal Democrat councillor in the constituency in 2015, has previously indicated that he would be likely to contest a London by-election.
In a statement marking his first anniversary as Green Party leader, Polanski described the coming political battles as a “referendum on ending Rip-off Britain”, intensifying speculation that he could seek the Holborn and St Pancras seat.
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He sharply criticised Starmer's record in office, saying the Greens could offer voters an alternative to Labour.
The contest follows Starmer's announcement on Tuesday that he would resign from Parliament, telling the Camden New Journal that the time had come to “pass the baton” to a new representative.
Senior Labour figures expect a crowded race for the party's nomination, with several prominent candidates reportedly considering bids.
The Greens have gained ground in Camden in recent local elections, winning 10 council seats in May and eroding Labour's dominance, although the party failed to take control of the council.
Their recent parliamentary breakthrough could also encourage a stronger challenge. The Greens won their fifth seat in the House of Commons in February when Hannah Spencer captured Gorton and Denton from Labour following the resignation of former MP Andrew Gwynne.
However, Holborn and St Pancras remains a strongly Labour-leaning constituency, and the party is expected to begin the contest as the favourite.
For Abdi-Wali, a successful candidacy would mark a remarkable journey from arriving in Britain as a refugee fleeing Somalia's devastating conflict to potentially representing one of London's most prominent parliamentary constituencies.
The Green Party is expected to select its candidate by the end of next week, according to The Telegraph, potentially setting up a closely watched battle between Labour and its increasingly ambitious left-wing rival.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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