Labour has chosen Sagal Abdi‑Wali, a Somali‑born former child refugee and the recently elected leader of Camden council, as its candidate in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras byelection.
Abdi‑Wali, who arrived in the UK from Somalia as a child in the 1990s, was elected leader of Camden council in May. Labour members in the north London constituency selected her to stand for the seat that was vacated by Keir Starmer.
The contest in Holborn and St Pancras is expected to be closely watched. Abdi‑Wali is likely to face Zack Polanski in the byelection, setting up a high‑profile local campaign in a borough that has been in the national spotlight since the vacancy.
Labour said its selection was made by local party members. The campaign period ahead will decide who succeeds Starmer as the constituency's representative and could draw wider attention to local and national issues as candidates seek to win the seat.