Nesil Caliskan
Nesil Caliskan | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Barking | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Margaret Hodge |
| Majority | 11,054 (30.3%) |
| Leader of Enfield Council | |
| Assumed office 23 May 2018 | |
| Deputy | Ergin Erbil |
| Preceded by | Doug Taylor |
| Member of Enfield Council for Jubilee Ward | |
| Assumed office May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Rohini Simbodyal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nesil Cazimoglu 1988 or 1989 London, United Kingdom |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Emre Caliskan |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent | Alev Cazimoglu (mother) |
| Alma mater | University of Reading London School of Economics |
| Website | https://www.nesilcaliskan.com/ |
Nesil Caliskan (née Cazimoglu; born 1988 or 1989) is a British Politician who is currently the leader of Enfield Council and the Member of Parliament for Barking since the 2024 General Election.[1]
Early life
Caliskan was born in a family of Turkish-Cypriot descent and raised in Enfield, London. In 2010, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading and graduated with a Masters of Science in Politics and Communication from the London School of Economics in 2012.[2] During her time at Reading University, Caliskan was vice president responsible for Democracy and Campaigns between 2010 and 2011, during which she participated in the 2010 United Kingdom student protests against increased tuition fees and spending cuts by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.[3]
Career outside parliament
Caliskan joined the Labour Party aged 15 years old and has campaigned for Labour in every election since 2004.[4] From 2013 till 2015, Caliskan was Cabinet Support Officer in Haringey Council and from June to December 2015 a Parliamentary Researcher in the House of Commons and also had roles in the NHS from 2016 to 2018.[2] In a by-election in May 2015, Caliskan was elected as a member of Enfield Council for the Jubilee Ward.[5] In May 2018, aged 29, Caliskan was elected Leader of Enfield Council after unexpectedly defeating incumbent Doug Taylor, who had led the council for eight years, becoming the first female and Turkish-Cypriot council leader in Enfield and the youngest female council leader in the country at the time.[4][5] In 2019, Caliskan was subject to a number of bullying and intimidation allegations made by fellow council members and was found guilty of bullying.[6][7] Caliskan is currently a board member of ReLondon and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Chair of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board, and an Executive Member of London Councils.[2] In May 2023, she was elected as Labour's chief of the Local Government Association (LGA) and has sat on Labour's governing National Executive Committee (NEC) since September 2023.[8][9][10] From January to February 2024, deputy leader Ergin Erbil was temporarily made council leader after Caliskan took maternity leave.[11]
Parliamentary career
In June 2024, Caliskan was formally selected as the candidate for Barking for the 2024 General Election to succeed Veteran MP Margaret Hodge after the original candidate, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council Darren Rodwell withdrew his candidacy due to sexual harassment allegations against him, which Rodwell was nevertheless cleared off.[12][13][14][15] If elected, Caliskan would become the first Turkish-Cypriot heritage Member of Parliament.[16] On 4 July, Caliskan was elected Member of Parliament for Barking with an 11,054 majority, succeeding veteran MP Margaret Hodge who stood down.[17][18] Shortly after being elected MP, Caliskan has announced she will stand down as Enfield Council leader as soon as a new leader is elected.[19]
Personal life
Caliskan is married to Turkish international relations academic and author Emre Caliskan.[20] In 2024, she gave birth to her first child.[20] Her mother, Alev Cazimoglu is also a member of Enfield Council.[20]
See also
- British Turks
- British Cypriots
- Turkish Cypriots
- List of Turkish Cypriots
- List of British people of Cypriot descent
- List of British Turks
References
- ^ "Election latest: Tories to collapse in worst result ever, exit poll projects; Farage forecast to become an MP". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ a b c "Nesil Caliskan". LinkedIn. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "The student leaders that could be about to enter Parliament". Wonkhe. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ a b "Nesil Caliskan breaks new ground after being elected Leader of Enfield Council". www.t-vine.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ a b "Councillor's pride at being elected Enfield's first female leader". Enfield Independent. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ SKWAWKBOX (2019-06-10). "Enfield council leader Caliskan found guilty of bullying colleague. Counter-claims of 'smears' rejected". SKWAWKBOX. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "'If I was a male leader, it would have been different' says 'bullying' council boss - MyLondon". www.mylondon.news. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Weakley, Kirsty (2023-05-22). "New Labour group leader elected unopposed". Local Government Chronicle (LGC). Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Shehadi, Lemma (2024-06-06). "How Muslim councillor Nesil Caliskan is leading the Starmerite candidate charge". The National. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Neame, Katie (2022-09-23). "Councillors elect Caliskan and Evans as NEC local government representatives". LabourList. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Deputy to step in as council leader takes maternity leave". Enfield Independent. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Darren Rodwell withdraws Labour candidacy after allegations". Inside Housing. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Council leader is general election candidate in east London". Enfield Independent. 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Barking and Dagenham Council leader cleared of misconduct allegation". BBC News. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ TCE (2024-06-28). "Nesil Çalışkan, Labour candidate for UK general election". TCE. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Barking | General Election 2024 | Sky News". election.news.sky.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ "Barking remains Labour safe seat as Nesil Caliskan elected as MP". Barking and Dagenham Post. 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ Dispatch, Enfield (2024-07-08). "Nesil Caliskan set to stand down as Enfield Council leader". Enfield Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ a b c "General Election 2024: Could Labour's trailblazing Nesil Caliskan become the first female Turkish Cypriot MP?". www.t-vine.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.