Evening Standard
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Niva Yadav,Matt Watts and Stewart Carr
The battle to replace former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has evolved into a closely watched battle between Labour and the Green Party, with Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali seeking to hold the seat for Labour against a challenge from Green leader Zack Polanski .
asserted
Wali → replace → Polanski
While Labour remains favourite to retain the constituency, Mr Polanski has thrown significant resources into the campaign in the hope of becoming the Greens' sixth MP and securing a major political breakthrough in London.
asserted
Polanski → remain → London
The race has received added attention in recent days after the Green Party's conference voted to adopt a controversial motion declaring Zionism a form of racism, prompting renewed scrutiny of Mr Polanski's leadership and campaign.
asserted
Zionism → receive → leadership
Here is a full list of candidates standing in the election, with nominations now closed.
asserted
nominations → stand → election
She pipped more than 100 candidates to the post to become Labour’s frontrunner in a selection meeting earlier this month.
asserted
She → pip → meeting
Cllr Abdi-Wali first came to Britain as a child refugee in the early 1990s after fleeing civil war in Somalia.
asserted
Wali → come → Somalia
Since then, she has lived in Camden.
asserted
she → live → Camden
She was elected as a Labour councillor for the Camden Square ward in 2022, after serving as the Cabinet Member for Better Homes - a role which saw her manage the borough’s housing and neighbourhood development.
asserted
her → elect → development
Cllr Abdi-Wali has also been credited with helping to achieve Camden’s status as a “Borough of Sanctuary” in 2024.
asserted
Wali → credit → 2024
She is also the governor for two local schools, according to the Labour Party.
uncertain
She → accord → Party
Her views have been largely shaped by her background as a Somalian refugee and she has prioritised housing and homelessness in her role at Camden Council.
asserted
she → shape → Council
The comments drew criticism from across the political spectrum, including from other Reform members.
asserted
comments → draw → members
Asked about the comments, Cllr Abdi-Wali told the Standard: “I think it's quite sad.
asserted
it → ask → Standard
It didn't personally affect me.
asserted
It → affect → me
But I do think about how it might affect young people who might be interested in getting into politics or community work and seeing that kind of negativity and that rhetoric and walking away."
uncertain
who → think → negativity
On being selected as the Labour candidate, she said: “This place welcomed my family as refugees and gave us hope when we needed it most.
asserted
we → select → it
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.
asserted
I → have → councillor
A victory for Cllr Abdi-Wali would see her step down from her role as leader of the north London council to assume Sir Keir’s former seat.
asserted
her → see → seat
Zack Polanski - Green
Green party leader Zack Polanski has been selected as the party’s candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
asserted
Polanski → select → election
Mr Polanski edged out Camden councillor Hamza Chowdhury to win the candidacy.
asserted
Polanski → edge → candidacy
Speaking on his win, Mr Polanski acknowledged that the Greens “might be the underdog in this election”, but he believes the party has the “momentum” to win.
Mr Polanski’s political career started in 2015 when he stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate for the for St Pancras and Somers Town by-election in 2015.
uncertain
he → speak → 2015
He later joined the Green party in 2017, eventually becoming the deputy leader in 2022 after being elected as a member of the London Assembly in 2021.
asserted
He → join → 2021
Mr Polanski has been credited with driving the Green Party’s popularity in recent months.
asserted
Polanski → credit → months
During his tenure, the party has made significant gains and achieved its best results in history in the 2026 local elections.
asserted
party → make → elections
Hannah Spencer MP was elected in the Gorton and Denton by-election, beating Labour and Reform UK, while Zoe Garbett was elected as Mayor of Hackney in May.
uncertain
Garbett → elect → May
However, events at the Green Party’s conference over the weekend, where members voted over the weekend to define Zionism as racism leading to Mr Polanski being barred from entering Israel, could have damaged his electoral prospects in north London.
uncertain
Polanski → vote → London
Ewan Cameron - Conservatives
Tory candidate Mr Cameron said: “This is the community where I have lived, raised my family and call home.
asserted
I → say → family
“From Georgian terraces, squares and the Regent’s Canal to the Knowledge Quarter’s research, AI and science organisations today, Holborn and St Pancras has enormous potential that with the right political leadership can become an even better place to live, work and belong.
asserted
that → have → leadership
“We need a Member of Parliament focused on safer streets, more family homes and cutting the cost of living.
asserted
We → need → living
“While families are leaving Holborn and St Pancras, the Green leader wants to talk about Gaza.
asserted
leader → leave → Gaza
Holborn & St Pancras has recently endured a ‘Never Here’ MP.
asserted
Holborn → endure → MP
We do not want another one.”
asserted
We → want → one
The Lib Dems face an uphill task in the by-election, having come sixth in the seat in the 2024 election.
asserted
Dems → face → election
Lib Dem candidate Mr Stillman said: “I’m proud to have been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Holborn and St Pancras.
asserted
I → say → Holborn
“Voters here deserve better than a Labour Government in chaos, or a Green Party using this seat to prop up its leader’s ambitions.
“
asserted
Voters → deserve → ambitions
We have a distinct, confident liberal message – on housing, on safety, on giving young Londoners like me a fair shot at building a life here – and I’m going to make that case on every doorstep between now and October 8.”
asserted
I → have → October
Nominations for candidates close on September 15.
asserted
Nominations → close → September
Pete Newman - Reform UK
Former Metropolitan Police detective Pete Newman will contest the by-election for Reform UK.
asserted
Newman → contest → UK
Reform UK said Mr Newman is a former counter-terrorism commander who responded to the aftermath of the July 7 bombings.
asserted
who → say → bombings
According to the party, he specifically led Met officers in Westminster to return the borough to normality and assist businesses in building resilience against potential future terrorist acts.
uncertain
he → accord → acts
…and 35 more, not listed.
The Aporia
.jpg?width=1200&auto=webp&quality=75)
