Rosie Newbigging,

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Welwyn Hatfield has released the following statement to our community:
The seat I am hoping to be elected to represent, Welwyn Hatfield, has a large Cypriot population who have historically, and continue to, made an invaluable contribution to the life and economy of the constituency, as so many Cypriots have done across our country.
I am delighted that Labour has promised all EU citizens the right to vote in our manifesto, finally providing migrants from Cyprus and elsewhere in the EU the right to have a say in our democratic process.
This organisation, aiming to bring those within the Labour party closer to Cypriots living in the UK is a fantastic initiative and I hope to work closely with you all upon my election.
As a lifelong internationalist and a strong believer in the need for a peaceful solution to the conflict, I believe it is imperative that the next Labour government does everything in its power to help build a peaceful and independent Cyprus, free from division.
Owing to Britain’s historical role in the country and our obligations as a guarantor of Cypriot independence, as per the 1960 UN treaty, our country has a unique responsibility and debt owed to Cyprus and we must help to ensure its peaceful and independent future. Whilst I was pleased to see last week the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meet with representatives from both communities within Cyprus for informal talks, this is not enough. There must be a resumption of the peace process and as soon as we come into power, a Labour government, as Jeremy Corbyn himself has said, must push for the resumption of UN-mediated talks to help make this a reality.
We must continue to push for a peaceful solution to this conflict and ensure that there is a reunification of the island of Cyprus. Then we can hopefully begin to see the island move on from the history of conflict and the division that has marred its recent past and begin to see the building of a unified community.
The Labour government we are hoping is elected next week will have a foreign policy which emphasises the values of democracy, diplomacy and human rights and these will all be front and centre of our efforts on Cyprus.
Once again, I’d like to thank you for hosting me at this fantastic event and I hope next time I see you all I will be introducing myself as the Labour MP for Welwyn Hatfield as part of our newly elected Labour government.
Similarly,

Ross Houston, Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, said, “After 45 years, the time has come to end Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus and the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus. I want to see a just and viable solution based on international and European law and respect for the human rights of all Cypriots. A solution must safeguard the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Cyprus and free the island from foreign troops and unilateral intervention rights.”
He continued, “Our government must do more to stand up against Turkeys illegal drilling in Cypriot territorial waters.
It is a scandal that Cyprus has Europe’s last divided capital, decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a guarantor state the UK has a special responsibility to stand up for Cyprus and push for an agreement that respects Cypriot sovereignty.
“As someone who has many Cypriot friends and who has many happy memories visiting Cyprus, I am committed to campaigning for a Peoples Vote and to Remain in the EU so that the UK and Cyprus can continue to enjoy our special relationship as members of the EU, the UN and The Commonwealth.”
Emma Whysall, MP Candidate for Chipping Barnet,

added, “When I first stood for Parliament in Chipping Barnet in 2017, I happily signed the Cypriot Federation’s Pledge calling for the Britain to defend the freedoms and human rights of all Cypriots. Cyprus must be able to decide its own future; as a guarantor of Cyprus independence, the British Government must live up to these international commitments. In this election I stand by the pledge I made then.
“In the years I have spent speaking with local residents of great concern to many Cypriots is the ongoing Brexit crisis and uncertainty. As a passionate Remainer, I believe that Brexit will damage our relations with Europe and Cyprus. Many members of the community are concerned about their future because the Conservatives have failed to provide clarity on the position of European citizens living Barnet, many for decades, in their pursuit of a hard Brexit. Labour is clear that regardless of the outcome of the Public Vote we will hold on Brexit we will grant all EU nationals the automatic right to continue living and working in the UK.”
She concluded, “This last weekend it was a pleasure to join members of the Community at the Sunday service at St Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, Friern Barnet Lane and meet with many after to discuss their concerns before 12th December.”