Somali-born Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski and securing a major political victory in London.
LONDON (Somali Report) — Somali-born Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali has won a closely watched by-election in Britain's Holborn and St Pancras constituency, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski in a contest to fill the parliamentary seat previously held by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Abdi-Wali secured 12,292 votes against Polanski's 8,928, according to figures reported by The Guardian, delivering a victory for Labour in a constituency considered one of its strongholds.
The result comes amid growing competition between Labour and the Greens for left-wing voters, with the contest attracting significant attention as a test of the parties' support in central London.
Abdi-Wali, who leads Camden Council in north London, came to Britain as a child after fleeing conflict and difficult conditions in Somalia during the 1990s. Her victory marks a significant milestone in her political career and has drawn attention among Somalis at home and abroad.
Speaking after the result at Camden Council's headquarters, Abdi-Wali said she hoped her election would send a message to people from minority backgrounds about their place in British society.
"I hope this moment also says something about who gets to belong," she said. "For people who look like me, I hope they can see themselves here too, and know that they have every right to be here."
She also stressed the importance of protecting social cohesion and diversity in Camden, warning against attempts to undermine the work of generations who had helped build an inclusive community.
"Here in Camden, our diversity is our strength, and our unity has taken a lot of work that we must not take for granted," she said.
Abdi-Wali said she had witnessed many people working to create a society in which diversity was valued rather than feared, emphasising the need to preserve those efforts amid increasingly divisive political debate.
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In an interview with Sky News, she also discussed the impact of controversial political rhetoric on people seeking to participate in public life.
She said such comments had not necessarily discouraged her personally, but expressed concern about their potential effect on others who wanted to contribute to their communities. She described herself as resilient while stressing that political campaigns should not leave people feeling that they did not belong in the country where they lived.
Turnout in the by-election was 38.7 percent, the lowest recorded in an English by-election during the current Parliament, according to the figures provided. It was 15.4 percentage points below the turnout recorded in the 2024 general election.
The Green Party conceded defeat before the result was formally announced, arguing that its performance in a constituency long dominated by Labour demonstrated its growing electoral appeal.
However, Polanski's loss followed a difficult week for the party after controversy over its approval of a motion describing Zionism as a form of racism, a decision that fuelled political debate.
The result represents an important win for Labour as it seeks to maintain support among left-leaning voters, while the Greens continue to challenge the party in areas where progressive voters have traditionally backed Labour.
For the Somali diaspora, Abdi-Wali's election has particular significance, highlighting the political journey of a woman who arrived in Britain as a child fleeing conflict and went on to become a prominent local leader before securing a seat in Parliament.
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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