Sagal Abdi-Wali, Tanweer Khan, Peray Ahmet, Adam Hug, Saqhib Ali, and Sam Theodoridi are potential candidates to replace Keir Starmer in the Labour party for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Sagal Abdi-Wali has been tipped as an early front-runner, while Tanweer Khan was previously suspended from the Labour Party over allegations of anti-Semitic posts. Peray Ahmet, a former leader of Haringey council, is also considered a possible candidate after her loss to the Green Party in May's local election. Four other individuals, including Adam Hug and Saqhib Ali, are understood or suggested as potential candidates for the seat.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sagal Abdi-Wali, a Labour councillor, is an early front-runner to replace Keir Starmer in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. She has been tipped for the role due to her experience representing the area as a child refugee from Somalia. However, another contender is Tanweer Khan, who was briefly suspended from the Labour Party over allegations of making anti-Semitic posts attacking Jewish-owned social media businesses. He previously warned that there were "rogue individuals" in Labour who needed to be removed to save the party. Peray Ahmet, a former leader of Haringey council, is also being considered for the role after her own seat was lost to the Green Party at the local election in May. The Holborn and St Pancras constituency has traditionally been a safe Labour seat, but the Green Party made significant gains in the area at the local polls.
Written for “Labour By-election Candidates” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 6831 · logged 2026-09-07
While the constituency has previously been seen as a safe Labour seat, with Sir Keir winning almost half of the votes cast at the last general election, the Green Party made major gains in the area at the local polls in May.
uncertain
Party → see → May
Sagal Abdi-Wali
Sagal Abdi-Wali has been tipped as an early front-runner to take over from Sir Keir.
asserted
Wali → tip → Keir
She has previously discussed her experience fleeing Somalia, telling the Labour List website in 2019: "Camden has been my home since I moved here with my family as a child refugee, fleeing wartorn Somalia.
asserted
I → discuss → Somalia
Mr Khan, who represented the Mayfield ward in Redbridge from 2022 until 2026, was briefly suspended from the Labour Party following accusations he had made anti-Semitic posts attacking “Jewish-owned” social media businesses.
asserted
he → represent → businesses
Mr Khan previously warned that there were "rogue individuals" in Labour who "need to be removed or they will destroy the party".
asserted
they → warn → party
Peray Ahmet
The former leader of Haringey council has been tipped as a possible candidate.
asserted
leader → tip → candidate
Peray Ahmet lost her seat to the Green Party at the local election in May.
uncertain
Ahmet → lose → May
After the defeat she called for Sir Keir to step down as Prime Minister.
asserted
Keir → call → Minister
At the time she said he needed to take responsibility for the “absolute disaster” Labour faced in the wake of the elections.
asserted
Labour → say → elections
She has previously held a number of senior positions in children’s services at several London boroughs, including Camden.
asserted
She → hold → Camden
Another former town hall leader is expected to apply for the seat.
asserted
leader → expect → seat
Adam Hug stepped down as the leader of Westminster council after Labour lost control of the borough at the May local elections.
He remains a councillor in the Westbourne ward.
uncertain
He → step → ward
While leading the central London borough he overhauled housing policies, invested in extra police officers and fought London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan over plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street.
asserted
he → lead → Street
Mr Hug missed out on being selected at the MP candidate for the Queen’s Park and Maida Vale seat ahead of the 2024 general election when former Camden council leader Georgia Gould was selected ahead of him.
asserted
Gould → miss → him
Saqhib Ali
Saqhib Ali is understood to have put his name forward.
asserted
Ali → understand → name
In 2015, Mr Ali stood in the North East Bedfordshire seat and finished second.
asserted
Ali → stand → seat
Sam Theodoridi
Sam Theodoridi has been suggested as a possible outside candidate.
uncertain
Theodoridi → suggest → candidate
Other Parties
Zack Polanski is likely to be selected as the Green candidate after announcing he has put his name forward to fight the seat.
asserted
he → select → seat
Hussain Shafiei has been selected for the Workers Party.
asserted
Shafiei → select → Party
