Sagal Abdi-Wali confirmed as Labour candidate for Keir Starmer's former constituency by-election

Sagal Abdi-Wali aims to win Keir Starmer's former constituency for Labour. She would be the first woman of Somali background in the British House of Commons.

September 11, 2026 — 12:49 PM

Fled to Great Britain at age seven, politically active in Camden for years: Sagal Abdi-Wali. Photo: Labour

From London Daniel Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

Sagal Abdi-Wali, 42, fled to Great Britain from the war in Somalia at the age of seven. Today she is the council leader in the London borough of Camden. On Wednesday evening, she was confirmed as the Labour candidate to succeed former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the British House of Commons.

Starmer triggered a by-election on October 8, 2026, with his announcement that he would resign as MP for the central London constituency of Holborn and St. Pancras. The constituency covers the southeastern part of Camden. Should Abdi-Wali win the by-election, she would be the first woman and only the second MP of Somali family background in the British House of Commons.

Community and social context

According to the last census in 2021, a total of 176,645 people of Somali family background lived in England and Wales. Around 70,000 of them live in London, including in Camden. According to the census:

• 72 percent live in social housing
• Nearly 60 percent live in overcrowded homes – far more than the national average

However, this social disadvantage is countered by self-help initiatives and strong commitment to their local community.

Abdi-Wali herself has been actively involved locally for many years, both in numerous organizations and as a board member of two state schools. Around 20 percent of the people in her constituency are Muslim. In 2022, she became a local councillor for Camden Square, the district where Amy Winehouse once lived. This engagement runs in her family: Her mother already founded an aid center for Somali refugees in Great Britain.

Giving something back to the community

Abdi-Wali was only elected political leader of the London borough of Camden in May. In this position, she leads the borough's executive.

Her particular interest lies in the construction and renovation of social housing, as well as educational and employment opportunities for children and young people growing up in Camden. They are expected to benefit, among other things, from the expanding "Knowledge Quarter," a science and technology cluster around St Pancras and King's Cross stations. Companies such as Google, Samsung, and the Francis Crick Institute have established themselves there.

Potential challengers

Green Party leader Zack Polanski could now challenge her path to the House of Commons, should his candidacy be confirmed by his party over the weekend. In the local elections in Camden, the Greens managed to take several seats from Labour, including the ward previously held by Abdi-Wali's predecessor as head of the local authority.

Keir Starmer also had to accept losses in the 2024 general election. Although he won the constituency with 48.9 percent of the vote, this was 17.4 percentage points less than in 2019. Among those who benefited was a left-wing independent candidate running on a pro-Palestinian platform. With Andy Burnham as the new Labour leader and Prime Minister, along with a stronger pro-Palestinian orientation, Labour might now regain votes.

Abdi-Wali's statement

"This place welcomed my family and gave us hope when we needed it most," said Abdi-Wali after her nomination. She expressed gratitude for having grown up in Camden and being able to advocate for its residents today. She sees her candidacy also as an opportunity to give something back to the community.