Sagal Abdi-Wali, who arrived in Britain as a child refugee fleeing civil war in Somalia, has made history as the first Somali-born refugee woman elected to the UK Parliament.
The Labour politician won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on October 8, securing 12,292 votes against 8,928 for Green Party leader Zack Polanski. She took the parliamentary oath on Monday, October 12, filling the seat vacated by former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Abdi-Wali arrived in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s, aged seven, with her mother and four brothers. Her family settled in Camden, north London, where she grew up and began building the community ties that would later shape her political career.
Before entering Parliament, she spent years volunteering with local community groups and charities, supporting young people and participating in local politics. She was elected as a Labour councillor for Camden Square in 2022 and later served as the council’s cabinet member responsible for housing and neighbourhood development.
In May 2026, she became Camden Council’s first Black female leader, marking another milestone in her political career before her election to Parliament.
Speaking after her by-election victory, Abdi-Wali described the result as deeply personal, reflecting her connection to the constituency where she had lived for decades. She also expressed hope that her journey would inspire people who saw themselves reflected in her background.
Her campaign attracted controversy after Reform UK politician Zia Yusuf questioned her Somali origins in a post on X. Labour representatives condemned the remarks as racist. Abdi-Wali later expressed concern that such rhetoric could discourage young people interested in politics and community work from pursuing those paths.
As she begins her parliamentary career, Abdi-Wali has identified housing and homelessness, public ownership of Thames Water, and improved access to jobs and apprenticeships for young people among her priorities.
Her election marks a new chapter in a career shaped by community involvement and public service. From arriving in Britain as a child fleeing conflict to representing a London constituency in Parliament, her journey also brings questions of belonging and representation into focus.
