TCs take control in UK elections
NORTH London now has two female Turkish Cypriot council leaders. Peray Ahmet will replace Joseph Ejifor as the leader of Haringey Council after winning a leadership challenge at Haringey Labour’s annual general meeting.
She follows in the footsteps of neighbouring Enfield Council leader Nesil Çalışkan, also from the Labour Party, who has been in her post since 2018.
Cllr Ahmet won the backing of party members during a ballot that took place last Monday evening. She has previously held positions in Haringey cabinet covering adults and health, and the environment.
Writing on social media on Wednesday, she said: “I am very grateful to have been elected Leader of Haringey Labour – the first Muslim to hold this office.
“I was born and raised in Haringey and am so proud to have the chance to move our community forward with fairness, decency and respect at the core of all we do.”
With her family roots going back to Ozanköy, the 45-year old mother of one is a passionate Labour supporter.
A local newspaper columnist in London and trade unionist, she beat Mr Ejiofor — who has been serving since 2018 — by a single vote, according to reports.
Cllr Ahmet told the Ham & High newspaper: “I’m absolutely delighted that I’m going to be leader in a place that I grew up. I couldn’t stress that more.
“I’m raising my family here. My family has lived here for 50, 60 years and it’s an absolute privilege.”
She added that she will “stand up for Haringey’s most disadvantaged residents”.
The annual council meeting, during which Cllr Ahmet is expected to be officially confirmed as the council’s new leader, is due to take place on May 24.
Cllr Ahmet, a Noel Park ward councillor since 2014, provided advice to unemployed members of the Turkish-speaking community and was also a commercial and procurement adviser for Merton Council.
In one of her columns, she wrote: “I’m quite proud that somebody like me could get to a role like this. Somebody recently said to me, ‘you’re part of the establishment’ because I’m a politician, but it isn’t as easy as that.
“I went to Woodside School, I left at 16 with no qualifications, but then I went on to get elected. I now get to represent the area I grew up in.
“I think my Mum likes that I’m in charge of something! It’s a very distant prospect for some kids, but I hope that is something that can inspire others.”
Meanwhile Justin Halabi, who stood as a Conservative candidate, became the third councillor of Turkish Cypriot origin to have entered the 60-seat council of the London Borough of Waltham Forest during English local elections.
The younger brother of pop star Eylem, Mr Halabi was congratulated by Conservative MP and former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who wrote on social media: “Congratulations to Conservative Cllr Justin Halabi for Hatch Lane Ward. We’re so lucky to have such brilliant Conservative activists, members and supporters who go above and beyond to help to get candidates elected. Thank you to everyone who voted.”
Another Turkish Cypriot who was elected, Mustafa Tary, wrote on Twitter: “I am hugely honoured to have been elected as a Borough Councillor for Hooley Merstham and Netherne. Now the work really begins.”