Enfield Council leader elected for safe Labor seat

Nesil Caliskan has been chosen to run for the party in Barking after the previous candidate was forced to stand down, local democracy reporter Grace Howarth reports

Nesil Caliskan has been selected as the Labor Party’s parliamentary candidate for Barking in the upcoming 4th of July election.

The leader of Enfield Council posted on social media: “I am honored to be the Labor candidate for Barking at the next election on July 4th. I am delighted to play my part in forming a Labor government and I promise to work hard for every vote.”

Cllr Caliskan, who became leader in 2018, has not yet confirmed whether he will stand down from his role at Enfield Council.

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The announcement comes after the previous MP for Barking, Margaret Hodge, who held the post for almost 30 years, stepped down in May.

Margaret posted on social media today (June 5): “After nearly 30 years as MP for Barking, East London, it only seemed right to pass the baton on to a new generation.”

Barking is considered a safe Labor seat, with Margaret winning a majority of over 15,000 in 2019.

If Cllr Caliskan is elected, she will be the first Turkish Cypriot MP in parliament. A member of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC), the governing body of the UK Labor Party, her candidacy was approved by the body following the resignation of Darren Rodwell following allegations of sexual harassment.

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