Holborn and St Pancras by-election: Who are the candidates?

Voters in Holborn and St Pancras are going to the polls in one of the most hotly contested by-elections in recent times.

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 .

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.

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.

Former Labour MP George Galloway is also on the ballot, alongside candidates from Reform UK, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Who are the candidates for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election?

Here is a full list of candidates standing in the election, with nominations now closed.

Sagal Abdi-Wali - Labour

Sagal Abdi-Wali is the Labour candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election

Labour

She pipped more than 100 candidates to the post to become Labour’s frontrunner in a selection meeting earlier this month.

Cllr Abdi-Wali first came to Britain as a child refugee in the early 1990s after fleeing civil war in Somalia. Since then, she has lived in 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.

Cllr Abdi-Wali has also been credited with helping to achieve Camden’s status as a “Borough of Sanctuary” in 2024.

Outside of politics, Cllr Abdi-Wali is a volunteer and a trustee for local charities. She is also the governor for two local schools, according to the Labour Party.

Labour’s candidate for Holborn and St Pancras Sagal Abdi-Wali with Andy Burnham

Labour

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. She has also been vocal about her pro-EU views.

The comments drew criticism from across the political spectrum, including from other Reform members.

Asked about the comments, Cllr Abdi-Wali told the Standard: “I think it's quite sad. It didn't personally 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."

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. 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.”

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.

Zack Polanski - Green

Green Party leader Zack Polanski will contest the Holborn and St Pancras byelection (Jonathan Brady/PA)

PA Wire

Green party leader Zack Polanski has been selected as the party’s candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

Mr Polanski edged out Camden councillor Hamza Chowdhury to win the 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.

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.

Mr Polanski has been credited with driving the Green Party’s popularity in recent months. During his tenure, the party has made significant gains and achieved its best results in history in the 2026 local 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.

Ewan Cameron - Conservatives

Ewan Cameron, the Conservative candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election

Ewan Cameron, a former Camden councillor and local political campaigner, will be the Conservative representative in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

The Conservatives face a tough prospect in the seat, having won the fourth largest number of votes in 2024, behind Labour, independent candidate Andrew Feinstein, and the Greens.

Tory candidate Mr Cameron said: “This is the community where I have lived, raised my family and call home.

“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.

“We need a Member of Parliament focused on safer streets, more family homes and cutting the cost of living.

“While families are leaving Holborn and St Pancras, the Green leader wants to talk about Gaza. Holborn & St Pancras has recently endured a ‘Never Here’ MP. We do not want another one.”

Patrick Stillman - Liberal Democrats

Patrick Stillman, the Liberal Democrat candidate

Patrick Stillman, a Liberal Democrat councillor for West Hampstead and outgoing chairman of Camden Lib Dems, will be the party’s candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

The Lib Dems face an uphill task in the by-election, having come sixth in the seat in the 2024 election.

Lib Dem candidate Mr Stillman said: “I’m proud to have been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Holborn and St Pancras.

“Voters here deserve better than a Labour Government in chaos, or a Green Party using this seat to prop up its leader’s 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.”

Nominations for candidates close on September 15.

Pete Newman - Reform UK

Former Met detective Pete Newman is standing for Reform UK in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election

Reform UK

Former Metropolitan Police detective Pete Newman will contest the by-election for Reform UK.

Reform UK said Mr Newman is a former counter-terrorism commander who responded to the aftermath of the July 7 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.

After retiring from the Met, he has worked as a professional security and investigative consultant, according to Reform UK.

Mr Newman said: “I am humbled and honoured to be Reform UK’s parliamentary candidate for Holborn and St Pancras. As a former police detective, it depresses me to see the state of crime and policing in our capital.

“Residents no longer feel safe and our police officers are struggling to cope. Police stations are closing left, right and centre, yet Labour don’t care and our mayor continues to gaslight Londoners over their safety.

“I’m standing to ensure that people in Holborn & St Pancras feel safe on their own streets again. They deserve more than the chaos of Labour and the divisive and contradictory politics of the Green Party.

“Only Reform UK can offer them hope and a fresh start.” specifically led Met officers in Westminster to return the borough to normality and assist businesses in building resilience against potential future terrorist acts.

George Galloway - Workers Party

George Galloway

PA Wire

George Galloway, leader of the Workers Party of Britain, is hoping to become an MP for the eighth time.

Galloway has been leader of the Workers Party since he founded it in 2019, and is a former leader of the Respect Party.

He has served as a Member of Parliament seven times for five different constituencies.

He has been living outside Britain since a counter-terrorism stop at Gatwick Airport in 2025 and has been awaiting Home Office clearance

Tyler Johnson - Restore Britain

Tyler Johnson is a corporate lawyer based in London, who is now campaigning as Restore Britain’s candidate to be the MP for Holborn and St Pancras.

One of the highest-profile members of Rupert Lowe’s party, Johnson says his local priorities are tackling Class A drugs, addressing council housing shortages and reducing congestion charges.

Briony Kapoor - Rejoin EU Party

Briony Kapoor is standing as a candidate in London after previously serving two terms as an independent town councillor in Folkestone and Hythe. She is also a prolific blogger and feature writer.

She said: “I’m standing in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election on behalf of the Rejoin EU Party to give voice to the majority in favour of our membership of the EU and to protest that the main parties aren’t giving the issue the importance it merits.

“As a long-term resident of the area, I’m aware of local issues and, if elected, would look forward to working on those matters with our local council.”

Jonathan Silberman - Communist League

Community League party leader Jonathan Silberman is contesting the seat, and is said to have a long history as a union organiser, as well as a defender of Cuba’s socialist revolution, plus a campaigner for the rights of Jews and immigrant workers.

“Imperialism’s march to another world war and the rulers’ mounting assault on our livelihoods is the reality facing working people today,” Silberman was quoted in The Militant. “None of the capitalist parties — Labour, Conservatives, the Greens or Reform — have any solution to that. This crisis can be ended only by building a revolutionary working-class party to lead millions in the fight for workers power.”

Helen Spiby-Vann - Christian Peoples Alliance

Helen Spiby-Vann is the Christian Peoples Alliance candidate for the constituency. According to the party’s website, Ms Spiby-Vann co-founded a foodbank during lockdown, which ‘gives her oversight of vulnerable people and how best to support their needs’.

Previously she was a carer with power of attorney for her disabled father and has hosted refugees. She worked for a North London Council for 17 years. It adds: “Helen belives that good stewardship of the earth’s resources requires compassionate and thrifty living, ‘use less and re-use more’.”

Clare Fischer, Climate Party

Classical musician Clare Fisher has held chamber recitals at the Red Hedgehog for many years. She is the Climate Party’s candidate in the by-election, describing them as “the new Greens – the ones who care for climate more than they do for Palestine”.

Barmy Brunch, Official Monster Raving Loony Party

Details on the Monster Raving Loony Party’s candidate Barmy Brunch are scarce. Manifesto commitments include a peerage for Larry the Cat, removing VAT on green paint, increasing funding for Youth Parliament by slashing the House of Commons’ budget, net migration reduced to zero by pinning all nets to the ground, mandatory brunch between 11am and 12pm and allowing everyone to be Prime Minister for 15 minutes.

Tom Darwood, independent

Tom Darwood is an independent candidate in the by-election. His website states his family fled communist China in 1954 and settled in Basildon, Essex. A strong proponent of British values, Mr Darwood heavily refers to his faith on his website.

Ketankumar Pipaliya, UK VOICE safer and stronger UK

According to its website, UK Voice was founded by Ketan Pipaliya, a businessman and entrepreneur, who is “not a career politician”. It adds: “Public services creak. And too many working people feel like no one in Westminster is actually listening. UK Voice exists because someone had to say it plainly: this isn't good enough, and there is a better way.”

Ben Walker, UKIP – NO to illlegal migrants

A former serviceman, according to UKIP’s website, Ben’s platform focuses on “upholding traditional values in Parliament, strengthening national security, and implementing comprehensive immigration policies to ensure a safer future for Britain”.