Four Turkish speakers are among dozens of people hoping to secure Labour’s nomination for Edmonton and replace the veteran local MP
His decision triggered a scramble to secure the Labour Party nomination for a safe seat that became available with a little three months until the general election.
On Wednesday, the final day for applications, Labour sources said that “as many as seventy” members had made a bid to the party’s National Executive Committee to be considered for the shortlist of around six nominees. Some have speculated the number of hopefuls could reach one hundred.
Party members living in Edmonton will ultimately vote on this shortlist to decide who they want as their nominee, with a decision expected by the end of February.
FOUR CANDIDATES
Londra Gazete has learned at least four people well-known to the Turkish-speaking communities have applied to be considered for Edmonton.
Local businessman İbrahim Doğuş, the director of the Centre for Turkey Studies, submitted his application on the first day and has been furiously canvassing party members in Edmonton.
Joining him is local businessman Savaş Hürman, who has lived in Enfield for many years and is known for the restaurants he operates in the Stoke Newington area. His wife Suna is already a Labour councillor in Enfield.
In addition to Mr Doğuş and Mr Hürman this newspaper understands two senior Turkish-speaking members of Enfield Council have made more discreet applications: Ahmet Öykener, the cabinet member for housing and regeneration, and Ayfer Orhan, whose cabinet portfolio covers education, children’s services and protection.
ORHAN AND ÖYKENER
Ms Orhan has been a Labour councillor in Enfield since 1998. She was her party’s parliamentary candidate in Cambridgeshire North West in 2005 and five years later in Hemel Hempstead.
Mr Öykener was elected to Enfield Council in a 2004 by-election and rose to prominence through his housing portfolio, through which he has attempted to reform his council’s approach to London’s housing crisis.
The two are not the only Enfield cabinet members leaping at the opportunity. Rohini Simbodyal, the member for culture and sport, announced her bid on Twitter saying: “I’ve lived in Edmonton all my life & I’m proud to launch my campaign to be the Labour candidate at the election”.
Another widely rumoured heavyweight cabinet candidate is Doug Taylor, the leader of Enfield Council.
But the prospect of winning a safe seat has attracted many hopeful candidates from outside Enfield: Joseph Ejiofor, councillor in neighbouring Haringey, announced his bid early on, while London Assembly member Joanne McCartney is considered a leadership favourite.
Also running are Labour National Executive Committee member Luke Akehurst; Ivana Bartoletti, a party candidate in last year’s European elections; and Hugh Goulbourne, a party activist based 300 kilometres away from Edmonton in Huddersfield.