Sagal Abdi-Wali has made history after winning the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, becoming the first British Somali person elected to the UK Parliament.
The 42-year-old Labour politician arrived in Britain from Somalia as a child refugee in the 1990s. She grew up in Camden, where she later worked as a housing officer before entering local politics.
Abdi-Wali was elected as a Camden councillor in 2022 and became leader of the local council in May 2026. Her local roots featured prominently in Labour’s campaign.
Following her victory, she pledged to improve the lives of families in the community she has long called home.
“Homelessness is the thing that drove me into politics,” she said, identifying housing as a central priority.
Housing crisis tops her agenda
In her first BBC interview after the election, Abdi-Wali described housing as a major challenge in Camden, London and across Britain.
She said she would focus on improving access to housing, including through the construction of more social and affordable homes.
“The only way we get out of the housing crisis is to build more social, affordable homes and also every other type of tenure,” she said.
Abdi-Wali also expressed support for bringing Thames Water back into public ownership. Expanding opportunities for young people is another priority she has highlighted.
A personal milestone for the community
At the election count, Abdi-Wali spoke about the significance of representing the community where she grew up.
“Camden gave me a community and instilled in me a belief in social justice, in equality and fairness,” she said.
She described her election to Parliament as a privilege and said she hoped her victory would encourage people from similar backgrounds to see themselves represented in public life.
“I hope this moment also says something about who gets to belong,” she said.
Her election marks a significant milestone for British Somali representation in Parliament, while placing her under pressure to deliver on the concerns she raised during the campaign.
Political leaders welcome the result
Prime Minister Andy Burnham congratulated Abdi-Wali on her campaign and said he looked forward to working with her.
Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer also welcomed the result, describing her as a champion for local communities.
As she moves from local government to Westminster, Abdi-Wali will seek to turn her stated priorities into action. Housing, homelessness and opportunities for young people are among the issues she has pledged to address.
For Abdi-Wali, the victory represents both a personal achievement and a new responsibility to the residents she has represented at local level.
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