Former Metropolitan Police detective to stand for Reform UK in Holborn and St Pancras by-election

Reform UK has chosen a former Metropolitan Police detective to stand in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, the party has announced.

Former counter-terrorism commander Pete Newman, who responded to the aftermath of the July 7 bombings, will contest the seat vacated by Sir Keir Starmer.

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.”

Earlier on Monday, both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats announced their representatives in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

Ewan Cameron, a former Camden councillor and local political campaigner, will stand for the Tories, while Patrick Stillman, will stand for the Lib Dems.

Mr Stillman is a Liberal Democrat councillor for West Hampstead and the outgoing chairman of Camden Lib Dems.

Labour has chosen Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council, as its candidate to succeed Sir Keir in the seat, while Green Party leader Zack Polanski is his party’s candidate for Holborn and St Pancras.

He is likely to be the most serious electoral threat to Labour’s dominance in the constituency, which the party has held since it was created in 1983.

Nominations for candidates close on September 15. The by-election will take place on October 8.