Somali-born politician Sagal Abdi-Wali has been selected as Labour’s candidate for Keir Starmer’s former seat, putting her on course to become the first Somali MP in the UK Parliament if she wins the October 8 by-election.
LONDON, Britain (Somali Report) — Britain's Labour Party has selected Somali-born local politician Sagal Abdi-Wali as its candidate for a parliamentary by-election in the London constituency previously represented by former prime minister Keir Starmer, in a move that could mark a historic breakthrough for the refugee-born politician.
Abdi-Wali, who arrived in Britain as a child refugee from Somalia in the early 1990s, was chosen by local Labour members on Wednesday to contest the Holborn and St Pancras seat in a by-election scheduled for October 8.
The constituency became vacant after Starmer announced on September 1 that he was resigning as a member of parliament, following his departure as prime minister.
Abdi-Wali, who currently leads Camden Council, said she was honoured to have been selected to represent the area where she grew up.
"I am delighted that local members have trusted me to be Labour's candidate for the place where I grew up," she said.
"That place welcomed my family as refugees and gave us hope at a time when we needed it most."
Her selection has drawn attention to a personal journey that began with her family's arrival in Britain as refugees and led to a career in local government and community work.
Abdi-Wali has lived in Camden for nearly 35 years. She attended school in the area and later became involved in community organisations, charities and school governance before entering electoral politics.
She was first elected to Camden Council in 2022, representing Camden Square. She subsequently served on the council's executive with responsibility for housing before being elected leader of Camden Council in May this year.
Her election as council leader made her the first Black woman to hold the position, according to local political officials.
At the time, Abdi-Wali described Camden as the place where her family had found safety and built a new life after fleeing Somalia.
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"Camden was our home for 35 years. It was the place that gave my family refuge, welcomed us and played a huge part in shaping who I am today and what I believe in," she said.
Her political career has also included leadership of the Labour Party's Holborn and St Pancras branch, giving her longstanding links with the constituency she will now seek to represent in parliament.
The October by-election is expected to attract considerable attention because Holborn and St Pancras has traditionally been a strong Labour constituency. Starmer had represented the seat since 2015 before becoming Labour leader and subsequently prime minister.
The Green Party is also expected to mount a strong challenge. Its leader, Zack Polanski, has indicated an intention to contest the constituency, potentially creating a competitive race in an area that has long been associated with Labour.
Abdi-Wali's selection has also triggered controversy over her background.
Zia Yusuf of Reform UK drew attention on social media to her Somali birthplace, prompting criticism from Labour politicians and some Reform figures who rejected the focus on her origins.
For Abdi-Wali, however, her refugee background has been central to her account of public service rather than something she has sought to distance herself from.
Her story has increasingly been framed around the opportunities she received after arriving in Britain and her subsequent work serving the same community that welcomed her family.
If she wins the October 8 by-election, Abdi-Wali would move from leading Camden Council to representing in Britain's parliament the constituency where her family found refuge after fleeing Somalia.
The contest could therefore become a significant moment both for Labour and for the growing representation of Britain's Somali and wider migrant communities in national politics.
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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