Labourist Afzal Khan Resigns from Position of Trade Representative

• Afzal Khan has resigned from his position as the trade representative.
• The visit to Northern Cyprus has drawn criticism from the side of the Cyprus Republic.
• Khan asserts that the visit was personal and paid for by him personally.

Labour MP Afzal Khan submitted his resignation as the trade representative of Great Britain in Turkey due to criticism of his visit to Northern Cyprus, which is not recognized by the government of Great Britain.

The visit, which took place last week, provoked a negative reaction from the side of the Cyprus Republic, which called it "absolutely offensive and unacceptable." Khan, who represents Manchester Gorton, stated that the visit was private, given that he visited his relatives and received a personal invitation.

He noted that he financed the visit himself, and in a letter to the Prime Minister stated that he believes it is better to resign so as not to distract attention from the government's work regarding trade agreements. Khan also pointed out that 20 British parliamentarians visited Northern Cyprus without similar criticism.

The Minister for Northern Ireland, Wendy Morton, welcomed his resignation, but noted that the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, should have dismissed him earlier.

Tags: Europe/Politics