Ertan Karpazli, an independent MP candidate for the Enfield North constituency

AVRUPA TIMES/LONDON-VOTE FOR PRINCIPLE, NOT PARTY! A TURKISH CYPRIOT MP CANDIDATE FOR ENFIELD NORTHIn a meeting held on the evening 29 May 2024, the newly formed Enfield Community Action Group publicly announced their backing for Ertan Karpazli, an independent MP candidate for the Enfield North constituency in the upcoming General Election, which will be held on 4 July 2024.Karpazli, 37, a London-born journalist of Turkish Cypriot origin, hopes to take the seat from incumbent Labour MP Feryal Clark, who will also be running. Confirming his candidacy after the meeting, which was held at the Darur Rahmah Hall in Edmonton, North London, Karpazli said: “It is with great pleasure that I am announcing my decision to run as an independent MP candidate for Enfield North in the upcoming General Election on 4 July 2024. This decision comes following an immense outpouring of support and encouragement from several Enfield North constituents who, like myself, have long grown disillusioned with the major political parties, all of whom have turned a deaf ear to our cries.”He added: “People who I've spoken to from all over the constituency - from Brimsdown, Bullsmoor, Carterhatch, Enfield Lock, Ponders End, Ridgeway, Southbury, Enfield Town and Whitewebbs - have all shared with me their disgust and abhorrence at the idea of an MP who is willing to remain silent in the face of blatant genocide representing them in Parliament for another four to five years.”

As part of his bid to become the next elected MP of Enfield North, Karpazli has laid out 10 key objectives. If he is elected, Karpazli promises to do the following:

Call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza
Speak out against the UK's complicity in genocide and arms sales to Israel
Push for a 'wealth tax' on the mega rich to better fund public services like the NHS
Strive for lower income tax, abolishment of inheritance tax and higher minimum wage
Argue for lowering the retirement age and an increased pension allowance
Stand for free higher education and a more engaging national curriculum
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 
Back genuine green initiatives aimed at improving environmental standards

Karpazli has also vowed to stand up for Turkish Cypriot issues in Parliament if he is elected MP. He said: “As a Turkish Cypriot myself, nothing would make me happier or more proud to speak up for the Turkish Cypriot community in the House of Commons.

“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.

“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.”

While most UK voters are due to cast their votes on 4 July 2024, the deadline for the submission of postal votes is 19 June. Those not on the electoral roll have until 18 June 2024 to register in time for the General Election. Registration only takes 5 minutes and can be done online on the government website.