News Story

Parties announce candidates to fight Labour and Greens in Holborn by-election

Labour has chosen Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council, while the Greens´ candidate will be leader Zack Polanski.

The Tories, Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats have announced their candidates for the parliamentary by-election to replace Sir Keir Starmer.

Patrick Stillman, councillor and outgoing chairman of Camden Lib Dems will stand for the Lib Dems and Ewan Cameron, a former Camden councillor, has been selected for the Conservatives in the Holborn and St Pancras contest.

Reform UK said former Metropolitan Police detective Pete Newman, who responded to the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings, would stand as its candidate.

The contest was triggered when former prime minister Sir Keir announced he would stand down as MP for the London constituency when Parliament returned on September 1.

Labour has chosen Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council, as its candidate to succeed Sir Keir in the seat.

The Greens’ candidate will be leader Zack Polanski, hoping to build on its momentum in the May local elections that saw the party placed second behind Labour in council wards within the constituency.

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.

At the 2024 general election and recent local elections, Labour voters have moved towards the Greens and independents amid dissatisfaction with the Government’s approach to Gaza.

The Conservatives, Reform UK and the Lib Dems face tough prospects in the seat, having won the fourth, fifth and sixth largest number of votes in 2024 respectively.

Tory candidate Mr Cameron said: “I am honoured to have been selected as the Conservative candidate for Holborn and St Pancras.

“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 and St Pancras has recently endured a ‘Never Here’ MP.

“We do not want another one.”

Reform UK candidate 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.”

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.”