At seven years old, Sagal Abdi-Wali arrived in Britain after fleeing the civil war in Somalia with her mother and four brothers. Decades later, she has made history as the new Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras, the north London constituency formerly represented by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Abdi-Wali, 43, won the October 8 by-election with 12,292 votes, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who received 8,928 votes. Her victory gives her a seat in the House of Commons and marks another milestone in a political career built around the community that became home to her family. “This is Camden, and this is Britain,” she declared in her victory speech, delivering a message about identity and belonging that resonated beyond the constituency she now represents.

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Abdi-Wali’s story is closely tied to Camden, where her family settled after arriving in the UK in the 1990s. She grew up in Gospel Oak, attended school in the borough and spent years volunteering with community organisations before entering elected office.

Her route into politics was not immediate. According to The Guardian, seeing growing numbers of homeless people around King’s Cross during the austerity years of the 2010s helped motivate her to become more active in the Labour Party. She had already spent years working with local communities before winning election as a Camden councillor in 2022.

In 2024, she became Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for Better Homes, taking responsibility for housing and neighbourhood issues. In May 2026, she became the first Black woman to lead Camden Council, a role that put her at the centre of local decisions on housing, public services, and residents’ needs.

That experience is central to her political identity. Abdi-Wali has spoken about how her mother worked to keep life stable for the family, even while they lived in a refugee camp or temporary accommodation. Her own experiences of displacement and housing insecurity have informed her interest in the challenges facing people who struggle to find a secure place to live.

Housing and homelessness are among the priorities Abdi-Wali has identified for her work as an MP. She has also called for Thames Water to be brought into public ownership and pledged to improve access to jobs and apprenticeships for young people.

Her housing record, however, comes with a complicated backdrop. In November 2024, the Housing Ombudsman criticised Camden Council’s housing service in a report that described shortcomings in its treatment of residents. Abdi-Wali had been responsible for the housing portfolio for approximately six months at the time. The history is a reminder that her move to Parliament comes with both experience in local government and scrutiny of the public services she has overseen.

Her election campaign also unfolded amid a wider debate about immigration and national identity. Following her selection as Labour’s candidate, Reform UK politician Zia Yusuf made remarks about her Somali origins that Labour figures criticised. Abdi-Wali’s victory speech appeared to address the wider question of who gets to belong in Britain.

“I hope this moment says something about who gets to belong,” she said, expressing the hope that people who share her background would see themselves represented in Parliament.

Abdi-Wali’s election is notable not simply because she arrived in Britain as a child refugee, but because she now represents the constituency where she grew up and built her career in public service. Her journey from refugee to councillor, council leader and MP places her personal history alongside the changing face of British politics.

The contest was also closely watched because of the candidates involved. Labour retained the seat, but Polanski’s 8,928 votes reflected a substantial challenge from the Greens. Turnout was approximately 38.8%, according to Camden Council, offering important context for interpreting the result.

For Abdi-Wali, however, the significance of the moment extends beyond party politics. She has spoken about wanting her election to inspire people who look like her and to show that their path into public life is possible.

Her story does not erase the difficulties facing refugees, migrants or people struggling with housing insecurity. Nor does one election resolve the wider debates around immigration and belonging in Britain. But it does offer a tangible example of someone whose family once sought safety in the country now entering its national legislature as an elected representative.

From a childhood shaped by displacement to a political career rooted in local service, Abdi-Wali’s journey has come full circle. Her message was simple: “This is Camden, and this is Britain.”