Labour has announced its shortlist of candidates seeking to contest the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, with local members set to choose the party’s candidate at hustings on Wednesday.
The three shortlisted candidates are:
- Sagal Abdi-Wali
- Camron Aref-Adib
- Nasrine Djemai
The selection follows the resignation of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, triggering a high-profile by-election in one of Labour’s best-known London constituencies.
Applications to become Labour’s candidate closed at midday on 4 September, with the party moving quickly to interview applicants and draw up a shortlist ahead of the final selection meeting.
Local members to choose Labour candidate
The final decision will now rest with Labour members in Holborn and St Pancras, who are due to take part in hustings and a selection meeting on Wednesday.
The successful candidate will then lead Labour’s campaign in the by-election, which is expected to take place on 8 October.
The contest will be closely watched nationally, coming early in Andy Burnham’s premiership and in a constituency Labour has represented continuously since its creation in 1983.
Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell has said the party has already been campaigning extensively across the constituency, arguing that Burnham’s message of “hope” is cutting through with voters.
She said Labour would make the case around issues including the cost of living, affordable housing, workers’ rights, tackling rough sleeping and improving social care.
Sagal Abdi-Wali among those shortlisted
Among the three candidates is Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali, who had been widely discussed as a potential contender before applications closed.
Abdi-Wali came to Britain as a child refugee from Somalia and has longstanding links with Camden, having previously chaired the local constituency Labour Party before becoming a councillor and later council leader.
She will face Camron Aref-Adib and Nasrine Djemai in Wednesday’s selection.
The shortlist means Labour members now have just a short period in which to hear directly from the candidates and decide who they believe is best placed to represent the constituency and retain the seat for Labour.
Major early test for Labour
The by-election is expected to attract significant national attention.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said he intends to seek his party’s nomination for the constituency, describing Holborn and St Pancras as an important opportunity for the Greens.
Starmer comfortably retained the seat at the 2024 general election, although Labour’s majority and vote share fell compared with the previous election. The constituency also recorded substantial support for an independent candidate and the Greens.
That makes the coming campaign an important early electoral test for the new Labour government under Burnham.
For Labour, Wednesday’s selection will mark the next major step in a fast-moving contest, with members choosing the candidate who will be tasked with defending one of the party’s most prominent London seats and making Labour’s case directly to voters across Holborn and St Pancras.
