Galloway vows to fight the Holborn seat from South Africa while he waits for Home Office clearance.
Veteran politician George Galloway has announced that he will stand in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election even though he is currently on a speaking tour in South Africa. The contest, triggered by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation, will take place on 8 October, just four days after Galloway’s scheduled engagements on the Cape Town circuit conclude.
The Workers Party of Britain (WPB) says the former MP is awaiting official confirmation from the Home Office that he is free to resume political activity in the United Kingdom. Until that green light arrives, Galloway will continue to address packed venues, framing his overseas presence as a forced exile caused by recent border interventions.
Background to the Holborn and St Pancras by-election
The seat became vacant when Sir Keir Starmer stepped down as MP for the north-London constituency. Historically a Labour stronghold, the vacancy opens a rare opportunity for smaller parties to make inroads.
The WPB hopes to capitalize on voter fatigue with mainstream options, portraying itself as a genuine alternative for those dissatisfied with the status quo.
Among the high-profile contenders are Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Labour’s Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali. Both have framed the race as a test of progressive unity, while Galloway’s entry threatens to split the left-leaning vote, potentially reshaping the final tally.
Legal hurdles and the Gatwick incident
In September 2025, Galloway and his wife, WPB deputy chair Putri Gayatri Pertiwi were stopped at Gatwick Airport by officers acting under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. The law permits authorities to detain, question and search individuals at ports if they suspect hostile activity. Neither was arrested, and after nine hours they were released, but the episode sparked accusations of “politically motivated intimidation” from the WPB.
The party points out that a similar stop occurred in 2004, after which the Head of Special Branch (Ports) issued a public apology and confirmed Galloway’s right to campaign. WPB officials now demand a comparable clearance from the Home Office before Galloway can set foot in Holborn to campaign in person.
Campaign strategy from abroad
While awaiting the Home Office decision, Galloway has leveraged social media to maintain visibility. Instagram posts portray his South African itinerary as both personal freedom and a political statement, noting that he spent “some of the best days of my life” there. He repeatedly frames the situation as an attack on British democracy, urging voters to “cry for British democracy” rather than feel sympathy for his exile.
The WPB’s grassroots volunteers are already canvassing the constituency, emphasizing the option to “break the two-party dominance”. Galloway’s previous electoral record includes seven terms as an MP and a brief candidacy in the Scottish Parliament in 2021, where he secured 0.4 % of the vote in Glasgow. His experience, combined with the narrative of state-driven suppression, is intended to resonate with disillusioned voters.
Implications for the left-wing vote
If Galloway is cleared to campaign on the ground, the race could become a three-way split, with the Green and Labour candidates each vying for similar electorates. The WPB has already signalled a willingness to step aside for the Greens in Manchester, but argues the Greens have never returned the favor. This tension may force tactical voting discussions among progressive groups.
Regardless of the outcome, the episode underscores the growing intersection of immigration-related security powers and electoral politics in the UK. Observers note that the handling of Galloway’s border stop could set a precedent for how dissenting politicians are treated in future contests.
