Somali-born Labour politician Sagal Abdi-Wali was sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras on Monday, 12 October 2026, after winning a by-election in the central London constituency previously represented by former prime minister Keir Starmer.
According to ITV News, Abdi-Wali took her oath in the House of Commons as MPs returned from their conference recess. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was present to welcome her to the Labour benches.
Labour Retains Starmer’s Former Seat
The UK Parliament’s official results show that Abdi-Wali received 12,292 votes, or 45.2%, in the 8 October by-election. Green Party leader Zack Polanski finished second with 8,928 votes, or 32.8%.
The Conservative candidate received 1,922 votes (7.1%), while Reform UK received 1,612
(5.9%). Labour’s majority was 3,364 votes. Camden Council recorded turnout at 38.76%.
Starmer vacated the seat in September, having stepped down as prime minister earlier in the year. Labour retained the constituency, although its vote share fell compared with the 2024 general election, while the Greens increased their share.
From Child Refugee to Parliament
As reported by The Guardian, Abdi-Wali, 43, arrived in Britain from Somalia as a child refugee and grew up in Camden. She worked in local community and political roles before becoming the borough’s first Black female council leader.
Her election makes her the first woman to represent Holborn and St Pancras in Parliament. Her background has also drawn attention to the role of migrant communities in British public life.
Priorities for the Constituency
During her campaign and after her election, Abdi-Wali highlighted housing pressures,
homelessness, and opportunities for young people. She has also advocated bringing Thames Water into public ownership.
Her election comes amid competition between Labour and the Greens for voters in London. The result establishes the outcome in this constituency but does not, by itself, determine how those parties will perform elsewhere.
