Hijab-wearing Somali-British woman wins Starmer’s former seat for Labour

LONDON: Sagal Abdi-Wali, a 42-year-old Somali-born woman who wears a hijab, has won a UK parliamentary by-election for the Labour Party, securing a seat vacated by former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Abdi-Wali received 12,292 votes in the by-election, according to British media reports, marking a significant victory for Labour and bringing renewed attention to the representation of women from immigrant backgrounds in British politics.

Speaking after her victory, Abdi-Wali said it was an honour to represent the people of her constituency, adding that local residents were looking towards the future with hope.

“This is an honour,” she said, expressing her commitment to representing the community and its aspirations.

The by-election was held after Starmer’s resignation left the parliamentary seat vacant, prompting voters to choose a new representative. Labour’s victory ensured that the party retained the constituency amid competition from several political rivals.

According to the reported results, the Green Party candidate finished second, followed by the Conservative Party in third place and Reform UK in fourth.

The result also raised questions about the Green Party’s political direction, with party leader Zack Polanski facing scrutiny following his candidate’s defeat.

Abdi-Wali’s win is notable beyond the immediate electoral contest. Her Somali background and visible Muslim identity bring greater attention to the experiences of women from minority and immigrant communities seeking representation in Britain’s political institutions.

Women from ethnic minority backgrounds have increasingly participated in British public life, although their representation remains an important subject of debate. Abdi-Wali’s election adds another example of a woman with an immigrant background winning the confidence of voters in a competitive political environment.

Her victory also comes at a time when Britain’s major political parties face pressure to demonstrate that they can represent communities with diverse backgrounds, identities and priorities.

For Labour, the result offers a parliamentary win following the departure of a prominent party figure. For Abdi-Wali, it marks the beginning of a new responsibility: translating electoral support into effective representation for the people who elected her.

Her immediate challenge will be to address constituency concerns while contributing to national debates in Parliament.

The outcome has placed Abdi-Wali in the spotlight as a new political figure whose election reflects the changing composition of British society and the continuing importance of representation in democratic politics.