Turkey's opposition threatens to block UK Labour return to Socialist International
Turkish opposition leader Ozgur Ozel has threatened to block the UK Labour Party’s application for readmission to the Socialist International, a global alliance of centre-left parties, due to its silence over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu last week.
In televised remarks on Monday, Ozel criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party for remaining largely silent about Imamoglu’s detention on corruption charges, which Turkey's opposition describes as baseless and politically motivated.
Imamoglu is widely viewed as the leading challenger to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election.
The Republican People’s Party (CHP), chaired by Ozel, officially named Imamoglu as its presidential candidate earlier this month, shortly after his arrest.
Ozel noted that the British Labour Party only issued a statement about the situation after waiting a full week, and that this statement simply declared support for democracy in Turkey.
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“Well, wake up and smell the coffee,” Ozel said. “The British Labour Party wants to be readmitted as a member of an international organisation where I serve as vice president - the Socialist International. They will face the consequences from me.”
The Labour Party had not responded to Middle East Eye's request for comment by time of publication.
'We support democracy'
The Labour Party currently holds observer status at the Socialist International. Full membership or expulsion requires a two-thirds majority vote of the organisation’s Congress.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office told AFP on Thursday that Britain urges the Turkish government to uphold the rule of law amid ongoing mass protests. However, British authorities have not released a formal, high-level statement on the matter.
The UK and Turkey maintain close economic and defence ties, and London is currently negotiating a major sale of Eurofighter jets to Ankara, reportedly worth nearly $10bn.
“Because we share a strong and important relationship with Turkey, and as with all our allies, we expect the upholding of shared international commitments and the rule of law - including timely and transparent judicial processes,” the UK Foreign Office spokesperson said.
“Around the world, we support democracy and the fundamental rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and media freedom.”
The UK has also updated its travel advisory for Turkey, urging British nationals to avoid crowds and demonstrations following protests that began on 19 March.
Last week, Turkey deported BBC journalist Mark Lowen, who had been covering the demonstrations. According to the BBC, Turkish authorities claimed he posed “a threat to public order”.
Both the UK Labour Party and Turkey’s CHP are members of the Party of European Socialists and the Progressive Alliance.
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