UK Labour MP Afzal Khan steps down following criticism over his trip to the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a territory not recognised by the UK.
UK MP Resigns Amid Northern Cyprus Controversy
Labour MP Afzal Khan, the UK’s trade envoy to Turkey, has resigned following widespread criticism of his recent visit to Northern Cyprus. The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not recognised by the UK, as Turkish forces have occupied the northern third of Cyprus since the 1974 invasion.
During the visit, Mr Khan also met Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar—a move strongly condemned by the Cypriot government as “absolutely condemnable and unacceptable.”
Khan Claims Trip Was Personal
Mr Khan, MP for Manchester Rusholme, told the BBC that he paid for the trip himself, visiting his nephew and receiving an honorary degree from an academic institution.
In a letter to the UK Prime Minister, Khan stated it was “best to stand down at this time so not to distract from the hard work the government is doing to secure the best possible trade deals for this country.” He emphasized that the trip was “in a personal capacity during the parliamentary recess” and “unrelated” to his trade envoy role.
Khan also highlighted that around 20 British parliamentarians had visited Northern Cyprus without attracting similar criticism.
Political Reactions in the UK
- Shadow Foreign Minister Wendy Morton welcomed the resignation but suggested Sir Keir Starmer should have acted sooner.
- Dame Priti Patel, shadow foreign secretary, had also demanded Khan’s resignation earlier this week.
- Christos Karaolis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, described Khan’s position as “clearly untenable following his deeply inappropriate and unacceptable visit to occupied northern Cyprus.”
A UK Government spokesperson confirmed that Afzal Khan has officially stepped down as Trade Envoy to the Republic of Türkiye.
Afzal Khan’s resignation marks a swift end to his role as the UK’s trade envoy to Turkey, following widespread criticism over his visit to Northern Cyprus, highlighting the sensitivity of diplomatic engagements in unrecognised territories.
