LONDON: Labour MP Afzal Khan has resigned from his position as the UK’s Trade Envoy to Turkey after facing criticism over his recent visit to Northern Cyprus, a territory not internationally recognized and not acknowledged by the British government.
Khan, who represents Manchester Rusholme in Parliament, met with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar during the trip. The Cypriot government strongly condemned the meeting, describing it as “absolutely deplorable and unacceptable.”
Explaining his position, Khan stated that the visit was made in a personal capacity during parliamentary recess, during which he also met family members and received an honorary degree from a local educational institution. “This visit was entirely personal and unrelated to my responsibilities as Trade Envoy,” he clarified.
In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Khan wrote: “I believe stepping down at this time is the right decision so as not to obstruct the government’s efforts to secure the best trade deals for the country.”
He also pointed out that nearly 20 Members of Parliament have previously visited Northern Cyprus without facing the same level of backlash.
Political reactions followed swiftly. Shadow Foreign Secretary Wendy Martin welcomed Khan’s resignation but argued that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer should have acted “much earlier.” Dame Priti Patel, the Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary, had also called for Khan’s resignation earlier this week.
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