What it’s really like as a newly-elected MP…
“I wanted to offer a positive vision for our constituency and our country, and demonstrate that politics can still be a force for bringing people together.”
Sagal Abdi-Wali MP, Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras.
The past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. From the excitement of winning the Holborn and St Pancras by-election to making my maiden speech in the House of Commons, joining the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee and getting stuck into parliamentary work, I have certainly hit the ground running.
Being a new MP is an extraordinary experience. What has struck me most is the warmth of the welcome from people across Parliament, particularly my Labour colleagues. There is a real sense of energy and optimism, not least because of the incredible by-election victory we secured together. It was a campaign that showed what Labour can achieve when we organise, work together and put people at the heart of everything we do.
I am particularly proud of the way we fought that campaign. From the outset, we chose to lead with hope and positivity, to talk about our promises and our record of delivery. I wanted to offer a positive vision for our constituency and our country, and demonstrate that politics can still be a force for bringing people together.
That spirit was reflected in the campaign itself. It was a genuine people-powered effort, bringing together local residents and first-time campaigners with longstanding Labour members and supporters, trade unionists and social societies from across the country. It was wonderfully diverse, reflecting the communities we were asking to represent. People from different backgrounds, generations and walks of life came together around a shared belief that things can be better.
Our campaign spoke about the issues most important to the people who live in Holborn and St Pancras: tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, addressing the housing crisis, creating opportunities for young people, and bringing Thames Water back into public ownership. Those were my campaign pledges and the priorities I have taken with me into Parliament.
One of the most special moments so far has been delivering my maiden speech in the House of Commons during the Budget debate. It was an opportunity to tell the story of Holborn and St Pancras, its people and places, and pay tribute to the two remarkable men who represented our constituency before me. Frank Dobson, whose lifelong commitment to our community and championing of social justice left such a lasting legacy, and Keir Starmer, whose dedication to public service and leadership have made such a profound contribution. I reflected on the privilege and responsibility of following in their footsteps and building on the foundations they both helped lay.
I was particularly proud to speak about belonging, opportunity and representation. As the first woman, Muslim and Black person to represent Holborn and St Pancras, and the first British Somali woman in Parliament, I know this moment is about much more than me. It is about what it means for the next generation, particularly a young girl, to see herself reflected in the places where decisions are made and to know that those doors are open to her too.
But ultimately, my message was that every resident, whatever their background or circumstances, should feel that their voice matters and that their future holds possibility.
Alongside the speeches and ceremonies, the serious business of Parliament has already begun for me. I was honoured to be elected by my fellow Labour MPs to serve on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee. It is a responsibility I take seriously, particularly given my experience of more than 15 years working in local government.
We have already held our first public evidence session, hearing from representatives of the national fire and rescue services. Following a summer of wildfires and flooding, we examined how prepared our emergency services are for increasingly extreme weather, and what more needs to be done to protect communities. It was a timely reminder that scrutiny is about asking questions, understanding the challenges facing those on the frontline and ensuring lessons are learned.
I have also been taking part in my first Bill Committees. We have completed our work on the Social Housing Bill, and I am soon to begin scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill. Having spent much of my working life supporting residents with better housing and working with council housing teams, these are issues I know are fundamental to people’s lives. Good legislation must translate into safer homes, better standards and greater accountability.
And, importantly, I have not lost sight of the promises I made during the by-election. Seeing the rise in homelessness was one of the issues that first brought me into politics, tackling it is deeply important to me. We have seen how much progress can be made when there is political will, sustained investment and strong partnerships, but we have also seen the devastating consequences when action falls short.
That is why I was pleased to attend the Prime Minister’s summit on ending rough sleeping at Number 10. It brought together government, local authorities, charities, businesses, faith groups, and people with direct experience of homelessness to discuss how we can get people off the streets and prevent others from becoming homeless in the first place.
Since then, I have been meeting local charities in Camden, speaking with Camden Council’s teams and listening to those working directly with people experiencing homelessness.
There is still plenty for me to learn about life in Parliament. It feels as though every day brings a new experience, another first and a fresh insight into the role, and I am sure there will be many more along the way. But I came into this role with a clear sense of purpose about why I stood, what I want to achieve and, most importantly, who I am here to represent. That sense of purpose remains at the heart of everything I do.
The optimism and hope that powered our by-election campaign must now become meaningful progress for the people of Holborn and St Pancras. That is the responsibility I have taken on, and I am determined to make the most of it.
