Party candidates have been confirmed for the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election on October 8, after former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer resigned as MP in early September.
By Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter
Party candidates have been confirmed for the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election on October 8, after former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer resigned as MP in early September.
The seat covers much of Camden, including Covent Garden and Bloomsbury, Camden Town, Regent’s Park and Kentish Town. Labour announced last week that Camden Council Leader Sagal Abdi-Wali will be the party’s candidate for the contest, and on Friday (September 11) the Green Party Leader Zack Polanski officially secured his nomination.
All five main parties have now revealed their candidates, with nine contenders confirmed in total so far. Here is the full list in alphabetical order. The deadline for nominations was Tuesday, September 15 at 4pm.
Sagal Abdi-Wali – Labour Party
Cllr Abdi-Wali has led Camden Council since May 2026, having previously held the housing and adult social care portfolios in cabinet. Elected to represent Camden Square ward in 2022, she has also worked as a council officer and as a governor for two local schools.
A former child refugee from Somalia, Cllr Abdi-Wali has pledged to prioritise housing, families and children first by “building on her record” of investment in the borough’s social homes.
The council leader said: “Camden gave my family a home, hope, and opportunity when we needed it most. I’ve never forgotten that, and I’ve spent my life working to give that same hope back to the community. I want every child growing up here and every family who calls this place home to have that same security and opportunity.
“That means more homes people can afford, giving families the support they need and making sure every child gets the best possible start in life.”
Barmy Brunch – Monster Raving Loony Party
The official Monster Raving Loony Party’s candidate is Barmy Brunch, who has pledged to “get rid of the bad eggs and political hams”.
“No time for breakfast – no time for lunch. Vote Barmy Brunch for a healthy body and mind,” the party’s literature states.
Brunch previously stood as a candidate for the North East Somerset and Hanham constituency in the General Election 2024.
Ewan Cameron – Conservative & Unionist Party
Former Camden councillor Ewan Cameron is standing as the Tory candidate for Holborn & St Pancras. His party says he is an experienced campaigner at both the national and local level.
Having first moved to Camden in 1997, he represented Belsize ward between 1998 and 2002, during which time he served as Vice Chair for the council’s licensing committee and was a lead member in Development Control, the department reviewing planning applications in line with local and national rules.
Mr Cameron said: “From Georgian terraces, squares and the Regent’s Canal to the Knowledge Quarter’s research, AI and science organisations today, Holborn and St Pancras have 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 & St Pancras, the Green leader wants to talk about Gaza. St Pancras has recently endured a ‘Never Here MP’. We do not want another one!”
Tom Darwood – Independent
Tom Darwood, who lives in the Southend East & Rochford constituency in Kent, is standing as an Independent candidate in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election.
Clare Fischer – Climate Party
The Climate Party has put forward Clare Fischer as its candidate. The party describes itself as “a new political movement with the aim of leading the UK to economic revival and increased prosperity for British people through a commitment to net zero 2030, in line with the science, while restoring Britain’s nature and protecting our waterways from pollution”.
George Galloway – Workers Party of Great Britain
The Workers Party has selected George Galloway as its candidate. Mr Galloway is currently in “self-exile” in Russia. His rich political history includes serving as Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead and Glasgow Kelvin constituencies, before he was expelled from the party in 2003.
Mr Galloway later joined the Respect Party and won two elections: in Bethnal Green and Bow in 2005, and Bradford West in 2012. In 2024, he won a by-election in Rochdale for the Workers Party but went on to lose his seat at the general election later that year.
In a statement, his party criticised the Greens and Labour’s support for sending “endless billions” to Ukraine and voting in favour of assisted dying. “Our party will offer voters something different. We believe the political focus should be centred on wages, housing, energy, peace, public services and national renewal. Currently no other candidate offers the voters this choice,” the party stated.
Tyler Johnson – Restore Britain
Restore Britain’s candidate Tyler Johnson is a corporate lawyer who has lived in the capital for over a decade.
Mr Johnson has not himself released a public statement. Party leader Rupert Lowe MP says that alongside his legal career Mr Johnson is a churchgoer and has served as a school governor, volunteered in schools providing careers advice, and mentored aspiring young lawyers who do not always have the connections to break into the profession.
Mr Lowe conceded that his party, promising mass deportations, would not win the North London seat “entirely because of mass immigration”, and has instead framed the election as the chance to “send the most powerful message that you want your capital city back”.
Briony Kapoor – Rejoin EU
Pro-EU campaigner and Holborn & St Pancras local Briony Kapoor has professional experience in the arts and business sector, and was twice elected as an independent local councillor for New Romney on Folkestone District Council in Kent.
She said: “I’m standing 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. Our constituency is arguably the most exciting one in the country, inclusive, creative, enterprising, hard-working and great fun.
“We’re well positioned to lead in London, in the UK and significantly to have a role at the heart of the EU.”
Peter Philippe Newman – Reform UK
Reform’s candidate is former Metropolitan Police Commander Pete Newman, who since retiring from the force has worked as a security and investigations consultant. Between 2004 and 2009 Mr Newman was a senior detective on crime reduction and counter-terrorism across London. He also helped lead the force’s response in Westminster in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings in 2005.
“As a former police detective, it depresses me to see the state of crime and policing in our capital,” Mr Newman said. “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.”
Ketankumar Pipaliya – UK Voice
UK Voice states that it “was built for people who are tired of being promised the world and given very little”. Ketankumar Pipaliya is the party’s founder. He is described as a “businessman and entrepreneur who built his career in pharmaceuticals, not in politics”.
The party’s website states: “Ketan comes from humble beginnings. He built his success through hard work in the UK, in a field where high standards are not optional, poor decisions have real consequences, and accountability is not negotiable. That mindset is the foundation on which UK Voice was built.
“He founded UK Voice because he believes Britain deserves a serious alternative to the parties that have taken turns letting the country down. A party that combines strong public services, controlled immigration, economic fairness, energy independence, and a foreign policy based on British interests rather than blind loyalty.
“Not a protest movement. Not a career vehicle. A genuine attempt to do something better.”
Zack Polanski – Green Party
Leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski is the party’s parliamentary candidate. He is currently a member of the London Assembly but has promised to step down if he wins in Holborn & St Pancras.
Mr Polanski previously stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate for the St Pancras and Somers Town by-election on Camden Council, and also contested the Barnet and Camden constituency in the 2016 London Assembly election. The Green politician says voting him in would put pressure on the Labour Party to better serve the community.
He said: “I’ve spent the last five years representing people here as a London Assembly Member, pushing the Mayor to do better on the issues that matter to people.
“And if elected as your MP, I will fight every single day, in this constituency and in the Houses of Parliament, for the things you care about. For rent controls. New council homes. Justice and fairness for leaseholders, so that people can afford to stay in the places they call home.”
Jonathan Silberman – Communist League
Jonathan Silberman, who leads the party The Communist League, previously stood under the party’s banner as a Mayor of London candidate in 2016. In May 2015 he also stood in the Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency at the general election, gaining just 102 votes.
Helen Spiby-Vann – Christian Peoples Alliance
Helen has been contesting elections in London for years including for the London Assembly and in the Hornsey and Friern Barnet constituency in the 2024 general election.
Helen has previously stated: “We are the only party to lower taxes, refund the universal credit benefits gap and recover taxes from multinationals to fund our policies.”
Patrick Thomas Stillman – Liberal Democrats
Camden councillor Patrick Thomas Stillman has been selected as the Lib Dem candidate for Holborn and St Pancras.
Cllr Stillman is the outgoing chair of the local party and was elected as councillor for West Hampstead in May 2026, having previously stood in the South Hampstead council by-election in 2023, where he came third. He says he is focusing on the cost of living, insecure housing, public safety and the future of Euston and the HS2 regeneration.
“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,” Cllr Stillman said.
“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.”
Ben Walker – UKIP – NO to Illegal Immigration
Ben Walker is the National Party Chairman of United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). According to the party’s website: “Ben served in the Royal Navy seeing active service in the Afghanistan War, a tour in the Falklands and service across the globe.
“He is a former County Councillor, Local Authority Vice Chair and Town Mayor. He owns and operates his own Planning & Design Consultancy which operates nationwide. Ben lives in Gloucestershire with his wife and young daughters.”
How and when do I vote?
The deadline to register to vote in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election is 11.59pm on Tuesday, September 22. You will be asked for your National Insurance number, but you can still register if you do not have one.
Once you have registered to vote you can also apply for a postal or proxy vote, or a Voter Authority Certificate.
The vote takes place on October 8 with polling stations open from 7am to 10pm. If you vote at a polling station, you will need to show your original photo ID. You can use expired ID as long as you still look like the photo. Your name on your ID should be the same name you used to register. Accepted forms of photo ID include:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Blue Badge
- Oyster 60+ card
- Freedom Pass
- Proof of Age (PASS) card
You will receive a polling card in the post if you live in the constituency and are registered to vote. This will tell you where your polling station is. For more information, visit Camden Council’s website.
