Afzal Khan, the Labour MP representing Manchester Rusholme, has resigned from his post as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy to Turkey following a political storm triggered by his recent visit to Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. The resignation, confirmed by a government spokesman on August 15, 2025, comes after days of mounting pressure from within Parliament, the Cypriot diaspora in the UK, and an outpouring of criticism from both government and opposition benches.
The controversy erupted when photographs surfaced showing Khan meeting Ersin Tatar, the president of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), at Tatar’s so-called official residence in occupied Nicosia. This territory, established following Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974, is not recognized by the UK, the United Nations, or the wider international community. The TRNC’s unilateral declaration of independence on November 15, 1983, has been condemned by the UN Security Council as legally null and void, and the UK’s official stance remains steadfast in recognizing only the Republic of Cyprus as the legitimate authority on the island.
The visit, which Khan insisted was undertaken in a personal capacity to visit his nephew and accept an honorary degree, quickly drew sharp rebukes. According to Manchester Evening News, Khan stated in his resignation letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, “This travel was unrelated to my role as trade envoy, however I understand the circumstances have generated controversy. It is my belief that trust in Parliament is paramount. Due to the attention this matter has drawn, I feel it is best to step down at this time, as to not distract from the hard work this Labour government is doing to secure the best possible trade deals and international relationships for our country.”
Despite Khan’s assertion that he paid for the trip himself and did not act in his official capacity, the fallout was swift and severe. The Cypriot government issued a statement describing Khan’s resignation as “an important development” and condemned his actions as “unacceptable and provocative.” The statement further emphasized, “The sound message is being sent that there is no room for tolerance, nor any possibility of a subdued reaction on our part.”
Christos Karaolis, president of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK and a central figure in coordinating the community’s response, was unequivocal in his reaction. Speaking to CNA, he called Khan’s visit “highly inappropriate and unacceptable,” adding, “The UK has a special role in Cyprus as a guarantor power and permanent member of the UN Security Council. Mr Khan’s actions compromised the UK’s long-standing foreign policy on Cyprus, contravened international law, undermined the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and disrespected the lived experiences of the UK Cypriot community – many of whom are refugees or descendants of those displaced by Turkey’s 1974 invasion.”
Karaolis went further, noting that Khan’s “presence in the occupied areas through an illegal port of entry and association with the symbols of an unrecognised regime were an attempt to normalise an occupation. As such, it made his position as the UK Trade Envoy to Turkey clearly untenable. His resignation is therefore both necessary and appropriate.” He also stressed that the outcome “reaffirms the UK Government’s longstanding position: that it recognises only the Republic of Cyprus as the legitimate authority on the island, and that it does not and will not recognise the occupation regime in the north.”
Reactions within Westminster were just as forceful. Sir Roger Gale, honorary president of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cyprus and Conservative MP, was among the earliest to demand Khan’s removal. Shadow Foreign Minister Wendy Morton told the BBC, “This visit risks undermining the UK’s credibility as a guarantor power and as an impartial mediator in the Cyprus settlement talks. It also sends a troubling message to British citizens of Cypriot descent, many of whom were displaced from the areas Mr. Khan visited.” Morton welcomed Khan’s resignation but argued that Prime Minister Keir Starmer should have acted more swiftly.
Priti Patel, another prominent opposition voice and former International Development Secretary, echoed these concerns, insisting that the Prime Minister “must reaffirm Britain’s longstanding position on the Cyprus issue.” The pressure, according to government sources speaking to CNA, became “unavoidable,” driven by an alliance of Labour MPs, opposition figures, and especially the Cypriot diaspora in London.
The UK Foreign Office, when approached by CNA, confirmed that Khan had not sought approval from the Prime Minister’s office before undertaking the trip. “The visit (by Khan) was undertaken in a personal capacity and not in his role as Trade Envoy. The Government had not been informed in advance of the visit,” said a Foreign Office spokesperson. This lack of prior notification added fuel to the fire, with critics arguing that the trip risked sending a message of tacit acceptance of the TRNC’s status and undermining the UK’s position as a neutral party in ongoing efforts to resolve the Cyprus dispute.
The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, representing a significant population of British citizens with Cypriot heritage, was particularly vocal. Karaolis, in his statement, thanked the MPs and British media who had supported the community during the controversy, emphasizing the importance of upholding “international law and the principles of sovereignty, justice, and reunification in Cyprus.”
Turkey’s military presence in northern Cyprus, dating back to 1974, continues to be a point of tension in the region. The island remains divided, with reunification talks frequently stalling over issues of governance, security, and recognition. The UK, as a former colonial power and one of the island’s guarantor states under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, has long walked a diplomatic tightrope in its relations with both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.
The episode has reignited debate within British politics over the responsibilities of MPs and government officials in upholding the country’s foreign policy commitments. It also highlights the sensitivities surrounding Cyprus’s division, particularly for the UK Cypriot community, many of whom are refugees or descendants of those displaced by the events of 1974.
As the dust settles, the message from both the UK government and Cypriot representatives is clear: actions by public officials must not undermine established policy or international law, especially on issues as fraught and unresolved as the Cyprus question. For Afzal Khan, a personal trip has become a cautionary tale about the intersection of private actions and public office—one that will likely echo in Westminster and beyond for some time to come.
