Candidates Confirmed for By-Election Contest in Holborn and St Pancras 2026

Key Points

• Major Contest Underway: Political parties have confirmed their candidates for the upcoming parliamentary by-election in the London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras.
• Labour Candidate: Sagal Abdi-Wali, the current leader of Camden London Borough Council, has been selected to represent the Labour Party.
• Green Party Candidate: Zack Polanski, the national deputy leader / leader of the Green Party, is contesting the seat for the Greens.
• Conservative Candidate: Ewan Cameron, a former local Camden councillor and long-standing political campaigner, has been named as the Conservative Party candidate.
• Liberal Democrat Candidate: Patrick Stillman, a sitting Camden councillor for West Hampstead ward and outgoing chairman of the Camden Liberal Democrats, will represent the Lib Dems.
• Reform UK Candidate: Pete Newman, a former Metropolitan Police detective who responded to the aftermath of the 7/7 London bombings, has been selected by Reform UK.
• Polling Date: The parliamentary by-election is scheduled to take place on 8 October 2026, following the formal closure of candidate nominations on 15 September.

Camden (North London News) September 15, 2026 – As reported by David Lynch of The Independent, the Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK have formally declared their candidates alongside the previously announced standard-bearers for Labour and the Green Party.

Which Candidates Are Standing in the Holborn and St Pancras By-Election?

Labour has selected Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council, to defend the constituency. She won the internal selection following a hustings vote among local party members.

The Green Party candidate is Green leader Zack Polanski, who was approved by local party members to challenge Labour in one of its traditional inner-London strongholds.

The Liberal Democrats have chosen Patrick Stillman, a sitting councillor for West Hampstead and outgoing chairman of the Camden Lib Dems.

The Conservative Party selected Ewan Cameron, a former Camden councillor for Belsize ward and longtime local campaigner.

Reform UK declared former Metropolitan Police detective Pete Newman as its official candidate.

What Did the Liberal Democrat Candidate Statement Say?

As reported by David Lynch of The Independent, Patrick Stillman stated:

“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.”

He further added:

“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.”

What Did the Conservative Candidate Statement Say?

As reported by David Lynch of The Independent, Ewan Cameron stated:

“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.”

Highlighting local economic potential and community needs, Cameron noted:

“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.”

Criticising rival campaigns, Cameron stated:

“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.”

What Did the Reform UK Candidate Statement Say?

As reported by Nina Lloyd and David Lynch of The Independent, Reform UK highlighted Pete Newman’s background as a former counter-terrorism commander who responded to the aftermath of the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The party stated that Newman previously led Metropolitan Police operations in Westminster to restore stability and assist local businesses in building resilience against terrorism, later working as a private security consultant.

As reported by Nina Lloyd and David Lynch of The Independent, Pete Newman stated:

“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.”

He continued:

“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.”

Background of the Holborn and St Pancras By-Election

The Holborn and St Pancras constituency has been held by the Labour Party since its creation in 1983. The seat became vacant following the resignation from Parliament of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on 1 September 2026. Starmer had represented the constituency as its Member of Parliament since the 2015 general election.

At the 2024 general election, Starmer retained the seat with 18,884 votes (48.9%), though his share of the vote fell by 17.4 percentage points compared to the previous election. Independent candidate Andrew Feinstein secured second place with 7,312 votes (18.9%). The Green Party’s David Stansell came third with 4,030 votes (10.4%), followed by Conservative candidate Mehreen Malik with 2,776 votes (7.2%), Reform UK’s David Roberts with 2,371 votes (6.1%), and Liberal Democrat candidate Charlie Clinton with 2,236 votes (5.8%).

Ahead of the October 2026 by-election, Andrew Feinstein confirmed he would not contest the seat again. Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband was also speculated as a potential Labour nominee but declined to enter the contest. Nominations for all parliamentary candidates formally closed at 4:00 PM on 15 September 2026, with polling day set for 8 October 2026.

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Predictions: How This Development Could Affect the Local Audience and National Politics

The outcome of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election carries implications for both local residents and the broader national political landscape:

• For Local Residents (Camden and Central London Communities):
  • Representation Focus: With candidate platforms divided between hyper-local municipal issues (housing affordability, street cleanliness, policing, and local business support) and wider national/international policy debates, the elected MP will determine the constituency’s advocacy priorities in Westminster.
  • Local Governance Dynamics: As Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali currently serves as leader of Camden Council, her election to Parliament could prompt leadership transitions within local municipal government.
• For National Political Parties:
  • Labour Party Momentum: Holding the seat—historically occupied by a former Prime Minister and Labour leader—serves as an indicator of electoral retention in metropolitan inner-city seats.
  • Green Party Growth: A strong showing by Green leader Zack Polanski would test the party’s ability to challenge Labour in urban constituencies where left-leaning voters express dissatisfaction with mainstream party lines.
  • Opposition and Minor Parties: The campaign offers the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK an opportunity to gauge voter sentiment in Central London ahead of future municipal and national electoral cycles.