Somali-Born Woman Who Arrived in UK as a Refugee Becomes Labour MP, Reveals When Her Family Came to Britain and How the Country Helped Them When They Had Nothing

Somali-Born Woman Who Came to UK as a Refugee Becomes Labour MP and Shares How Britain Changed Her Life

A Somali-born woman who arrived in Britain as a young refugee after escaping war in her home country has shared how the United Kingdom welcomed her family, gave them a safe place to live and helped her build a better future.

Sagal Abdi-Wali, who has now become a Labour MP, said she would never forget the opportunities Britain gave her family when they needed help.

Her journey began in the early 1990s when she fled Somalia with her mother and four brothers during the country’s civil war. At the time, she was still a young child, and her family was searching for somewhere safe to start a new life.

When they arrived in London, she could not speak English. Everything around her was different, including the language, people and environment.

However, she said that growing up in Britain gave her opportunities that helped shape the person she would eventually become.

Her family settled in Camden, north London, and she moved to the Gospel Oak area when she was around seven years old. Her father later joined the family.

Speaking about her early experiences, she explained that football played an important role in helping her make friends because she did not need to speak the same language as other children to enjoy playing with them.

Through school, friendships and everyday life in her new community, she gradually began to feel at home in Britain.

Abdi-Wali said one of the most important things Britain gave her family was stability.

Having somewhere safe to live meant she could attend school, make friends and grow up without the uncertainty that had affected her family before they arrived.

She explained that her mother worked hard to make sure the children felt comfortable, even during difficult periods when they were living in refugee accommodation or temporary housing.

Looking back, she said she only fully understood the challenges her family had faced when she became older.

Her mother, who had trained as a lawyer in Somalia, also encouraged her children to become involved in the local community.

Instead of simply receiving help and moving on, the family wanted to contribute to the place that had welcomed them.

As a young girl, Abdi-Wali accompanied her mother to community activities, volunteering events and local gatherings.

These experiences helped her understand the importance of helping other people and giving something back to society.

In a personal article published shortly before entering Parliament, she explained that coming to Britain as refugees gave her family the opportunity to build a home and a new life.

She said the kindness they received made them want to repay the community that supported them.

As she grew older, Abdi-Wali became increasingly interested in helping people facing housing problems, homelessness and other difficulties.

She eventually joined the Labour Party in 2015 after becoming concerned about the growing number of people sleeping rough around King’s Cross in London.

She believed that political decisions could make a difference to people struggling to find somewhere safe to live.

In 2022, she was elected as a councillor in Camden. Four years later, in May 2026, she became the first Black woman to lead Camden Council.

Her political journey continued when Labour selected her to contest the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary by-election.

She won the election on October 8, 2026, becoming the area’s new Labour MP.

Her victory was especially meaningful because she was now representing the same community that had welcomed her family when they arrived in Britain with very little.

Following her election, she explained that the result was deeply personal because Camden had given her family a home, opportunities and a sense of belonging.

She also expressed hope that her journey would encourage other young people, particularly those from immigrant and refugee backgrounds, to believe they could become involved in British public life.

During her campaign, she faced criticism over the fact that she was born outside Britain.

Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, questioned Labour’s decision to select someone born in Somalia to represent the constituency.

His comments were condemned by Labour politicians, who described them as racist.

However, Abdi-Wali said the criticism made her more determined to encourage young people not to be discouraged from participating in politics.

She argued that people from different backgrounds could contribute positively to the communities in which they live.

Before taking her place in Parliament on Monday, October 12, she reflected on the remarkable change in her circumstances.

She had arrived in Britain as a child fleeing conflict, unable to speak English and dependent on the support of her family and the community around her.

Decades later, she was preparing to enter the House of Commons as an elected representative.

She said her election was an opportunity to repay the kindness Britain had shown her family and to help others who were struggling.

She also promised to continue working on housing, homelessness and improving opportunities for people in Camden.

For Abdi-Wali, her story is about more than becoming a politician. It is about a family that escaped war, found safety in another country and gradually built a new life through education, community support and public service.

She hopes her journey will remind people that refugees who are given safety and opportunities can also go on to contribute to the country that welcomed them.