Turkish lobbying group welcomes news of 83 candidates from the community, but councillors say this number needs to increase even further
Labour candidate Mete Çoban, organiser Muttalip Ünlüer, Liberal Democrat candidate Turhan Özen, and Conservative candidates Murat Yurtseven, Doğan Delman, Ersin Çelebi, Ertan Hürer and Mevlit Beyzade
AN ORGANISATION representing Turkish interests in Europe urged voters from the Turkish-speaking communities to vote in next week’s local elections.
The call came at a Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) meeting held to introduce voters to candidates standing for election from within the community.
Serving councillors and candidates for boroughs across London were present at the meeting, as well as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Tottenham, Turhan Özen.
Event organiser Muttalip Ünlüer said the meeting was culmination of efforts to raise the community’s voice in British public life. He said elections had long been the route of entry into the country’s decision-making process and the community needed a greater number of candidates.
Doğan Delman, a Conservative councillior in Enfield, said it was a momentous achievement that 83 candidates from the Turkish, Turkish Cypriot and Kurdish communities, as revealed by Londra Gazete this month.
“We must become members of political parties,” he said. “The more members we have, the more of a weight we will carry and the more our words will be heard.”
He was joined at the meeting by fellow Conservative councillor Ertan Hürer. Both are standing for re-election.
Mr Özen added that he was fighting to ensure the country’s political class was not represented exclusively by white British people. He said that he was concerned younger people were not as interested in politics, adding that they should be, because politics had an effect on every aspect of our lives.
Also present at the meeting was the 21-year-old Labour candidate in Stock Newington, Mete Çoban, as well as Enfield Conservative candidates Murat Yurtseven , Mevit Beyzade and Ersin Çelebi.