CAMDEN Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali has been chosen as the Labour candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

She will seek to defend the seat abandoned by former premier Sir Keir Starmer, in spite of his promises to serve until the end of the parliament.

Ms Abdi-Wali will almost certainly be up against Green Party leader Zack Polanski, with local Greens set to choose their candidate last night.

The poll, to be held on October 8, will therefore test new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s capacity to win back progressive voters alienated by Sir Keir.

Ms Abdi-Wali, who came to Britain as a child refugee from Somalia, is a protege of the local party’s entrenched right-wing and has been notably silent on the Gaza crisis throughout.

In spite of that, her chances will have been assisted by the sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements announced by the government this week.

She said: “I am delighted that local members have put their trust in me to be Labour’s candidate in the area I’ve grown up in. 

“This place welcomed my family as refugees and gave us hope when we needed it most. 

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to build a life here, serving our community as a councillor, school governor, and community activist. 

“Now I am standing to say thank you and to give back the hope you gave me.”

Despite inheriting a majority of more than 11,000 from the last election — a poor result by local Labour standards — she will face a tough fight against Mr Polanski.

The Green Party leader first had to defeat a challenge from local Green councillor Hamza Chowdhury.  

Some local voters saw Mr Chowdury’s candidacy as proof of the Greens’ democratic constitution, others as a sign of regrettable self-indulgence.

Mr Polanski will have the significant support of the Camden People’s Alliance, which won a council seat in May in alliance with the Greens, should he commit to key policy demands.

These refer to Gaza, welfare, housing, and rent controls, as well as a continuing commitment to working with progressive forces across the borough.  

The alliance will maintain its own identity in the election campaign.

It grew out of pro-Palestine campaigner Andrew Feinstein’s powerful 2024 challenge, which secured 20 per cent of the vote to finish second to Sir Keir. 

Mr Feinstein had already indicated he would not fight the by-election and had personally backed Mr Polanski.