UK policy of Turkish Cypriot isolation 'despicable', says MP candidate

An independent MP candidate running for the Enfield North seat in the upcoming General Election on 4 July has expressed his wish to see direct flights from the UK to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, calling the UK's continued backing of embargoes on the Turkish Cypriot state 'despicable'.

In a press released shared with Euro Genc TV on Thursday (30 May), Karpazli, who was born in Enfield and is himself of Turkish Cypriot origin, said: “Enfield is of course home to many Turkish Cypriots who would love to be able to fly to their homeland of North Cyprus directly from London, which is a very reasonable request from people who just want to be able to go home and visit their families.

“It is also quite despicable that the UK, one of three legal guarantors of peace in Cyprus alongside Turkiye and Greece, continues to penalise Turkish Cypriots by unjustly supporting their international isolation. It's high time the UK fulfilled its responsibility as a guarantor and started taking a more balanced approach to the Cyprus Problem. Ending the embargoes that limit the rights of Turkish Cypriots to trade, travel and participate in international sports events would be an important step towards breaking the unfavourable status quo."

Regarding the division of the island, Karpazli added: “It is not my place to dictate to the people of Cyprus what they ought to do with their island, but the inhumane isolation of Turkish Cypriots in the north cannot continue. Calls for a united island have not worked for 50 years as there is no incentive for the Greek Cypriot side to take reunification talks seriously. Perhaps if the UK supported the Turkish Cypriot campaign for a two-state solution, the two sides might be able to resume talks based on a newfound mutual respect where both parties are treated as equal partners.”

Karpazli, 37, was publicly endorsed by the newly formed Enfield Community Action Group at a meeting held at the Darur Rahmah conference hall in Edmonton on Wednesday (29 May). His candidacy pits him against the Labour Party's incumbent MP for Enfield North, Feryal Clark. Also challenging for the seat are candidates from the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the Workers Party and Reform UK. The Tories are yet to confirm their candidate for the constituency.

In addition to supporting direct flights and the end of embargoes on the TRNC, Karpazli will also be campaigning for an 'immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza', as well as an end to the UK's 'complicity in genocide and arms sales to Israel'.

Further to that, he has vowed to consider a 'wealth tax' on the mega rich to 'better fund public services like the NHS', and to 'strive for lower income tax, abolishment of inheritance tax and higher minimum wage'. Also on his agenda is the lowering the retirement age and an increased pension allowance, and free higher education, along with a more engaging national curriculum.

He additionally hopes to combat crime and extremism by creating better opportunities for young people, support the fight against Islamophobia and discrimination in the media, prioritise small businesses and local communities in new development projects, and back 'genuine green initiatives' aimed at improving environmental standards.

Boundary changes to the Enfield North constituency since the last General Election means that the constituency now includes the entire Ponders End ward, which was previously part of the Edmonton constituency. It also includes the Brimsdown, Bullsmoor, Carterhatch, Enfield Lock, Ridgeway, Southbury, Enfield Town and Whitewebbs wards.

People who are not already on the electoral roll and wish to vote in the next General Election have until the deadline of 18 June to register. Registrations can be done by filling in an online form on the government website. The deadline for people wanting to cast their votes by post is 19 June.