The Holborn and St Pancras by-election battle is escalating as leading contenders make fresh appeals to voters ahead of polling day on Thursday.
Labour’s candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali is the bookies’ favourite to win the north London electoral race. However, Green Party leader Zack Polanski has not given up hope of pulling off a shock victory, while George Galloway has also entered the contest, potentially splitting the anti-Labour, Left vote.
Key candidates and their pitches
Other candidates include former Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism commander Pete Newman, standing for Reform UK, Conservative Ewan Cameron, and Liberal Democrat Patrick Stillman. The by-election was triggered by Sir Keir Starmer quitting as the local MP after being forced out of No10 by a Labour revolt.
Ms Abdi-Wali, who was born in Somalia and came to Britain as a child refugee, has campaigned on attracting more high-quality, well-paid local jobs, better homes, ending rough sleeping, and more affordable water and other bills. The Camden Council leader wrote for The Standard: “Most of all – I want to give you hope again. Camden gave me everything. Now I want to give that back.”
Green and Galloway challenges
Mr Polanski is urging voters to back him to force the Labour Government to do more on climate change after the “terrifying” heatwaves this summer, as well as more to tackle inequality and the cost of living. He said: “If Labour wins, that sends a signal that they don’t have to worry about caring about the climate, or what our communities need. But if I win, that will keep Labour in check and make sure they act on the things that matter to Holborn and St Pancras: affordable housing, safe communities, and securing a safe future for our children.”
His campaign has been a rollercoaster, with Green Party members voting at their annual conference to declare Zionism as a form of racism. The motion led Mr Polanski, who is Jewish, to be banned by Israel's foreign ministry from entering the country.
Mr Galloway, who has represented five seats in Parliament including Bethnal Green and Bow, has been on a speaking tour in South Africa, and it was not clear if he would campaign in person in north London. The Workers Party of Britain leader stressed the need to “unite our people on vital national priorities and end division along identity politics”. He added: “We are subjects of a fading failing Ealing comedy state presided over by a rotten establishment of losers in danger of sinking our ship with the loss of all hands. We need an experienced steady hand on the tiller.”
Conservative, Reform, and Lib Dem appeals
Conservative candidate Mr Cameron said families were being “priced out” of the constituency. He added: “School rolls are falling and primary schools are closing. Labour promised to fix the housing crisis but it has failed.” He stressed that there is “no greater Conservative principle than home ownership,” adding: “It brings security, strengthens community and gives people a stake in their community.” He slammed the Labour Government’s “spiteful mansion tax” on homes worth £2 million or more, vowing to vote to scrap Stamp Duty.
Reform’s Mr Newman emphasised that three police front counters have been closed to the public since 2010: Holborn, Albany Street, and King’s Cross Road. He argued: “London - and Camden - are lawless. I’ve restored lawless London once before and led the Met’s work to return Westminster to normality after the 7/7 bombings.” Stressing the need to “take back our streets,” he added: “That starts with a zero-tolerance approach to crime, with visible police on our streets, and police stations open to the public 24/7.”
Lib Dem candidate Mr Stillman said: “I’ve long taken exception to the idea that there are “Lib Dem areas” (notably those with a Gail’s Bakery) or “Lib Dem voters” (those that can afford Gail’s). If my experience in Camden has shown me anything, it’s that the most unexpected doors are the ones with support hiding behind them.” He added: “It's simply not good enough that there are people in Camden in poverty, people in our borough who live in insecure or unsafe housing, or whose kids can’t find work or whose parents are scared of losing theirs.” Fifteen candidates are battling it out in the by-election.
