James Slater has been selected by Labour members as the next leader of Camden Council, making him the third person to hold the role in less than a year. He will take over in November when the current leader, Sagal Abdi-Wali, formally steps down after winning the Holborn and St Pancras by-election and becoming an MP.
Slater secures Labour support
Councillor Slater has secured the support of a majority of Camden Labour councillors to replace Ms Abdi-Wali as leader of the local party group. He will take over in November when Ms Abdi-Wali formally relinquishes the post.
Mr Slater said it was a "huge honour" to have been chosen to lead the north London local authority. "I moved to this borough a decade ago and fell in love with Camden’s creativity, diversity and opportunity," he said. "I’ve seen it first-hand while living in all corners of our borough, and serving our diverse communities as a school and NHS governor, trustee, volunteer and now as a councillor. My mission is simple: I want every resident, in every part of Camden, to share in the borough’s success."
Background and experience
The 28-year-old has held the planning and regeneration brief in the council cabinet since May 2026. He was first elected as a councillor for Kentish Town North in 2022. During his four years on the council, he also chaired the audit committee and served as a policy adviser to the cabinet.
Beyond the town hall, he has spent the last five years working in Parliament for three Labour MPs. Mr Slater is currently employed as head of office for Catherine McKinnell, the MP for Newcastle North and prisons minister. It is understood he will leave this job upon becoming leader.
Transition and by-election context
Ms Abdi-Wali will continue leading the borough until November 16, when the full council will vote on her successor. With 30 seats on the council, Labour’s majority all but guarantees Mr Slater’s election as leader.
Ms Abdi-Wali, who is the first-ever British Somali woman MP, became council leader less than six months ago after her predecessor, Richard Olszewski, lost his seat at the local elections. The by-election was triggered after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer stood down from Parliament. In the contest, Ms Abdi-Wali beat Green leader Zack Polanski by a 12-point margin to retain the seat for Labour.
Since becoming an MP, she has continued as a councillor for Camden Square ward but has said she would not be taking a councillor’s allowance. The basic annual salary for MPs is £98,599.
