Deselected Islington Labour councillor vows to fight on after disappointment
Aysegul Erdogan with her fellow Labour councillor in Highbury East Osh Gantly. - Credit: Archant
An Islington Labour councillor who was deselected from her ward has vowed to fight on as she bids to become a candidate in another.
Cllr Aysegul Erdogan is so far the only sitting member of the party to not win enough votes from members in their ward to run again.
Of the 16 wards, 14 have made their selections. Tonight, Cllr Erdogan will run for selection in St Peter’s ward, where she lives on the Packington Estate.
Cllr Erdogan became the first female Kurdish councillor when she was elected to Highbury East in 2014. Speaking after Tuesday night’s vote, she said: “I am disappointed about what happened, but it hasn’t deterred me at all.
“I am Labour through and through, and I think it’s vital that female, Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) voices like mine are heard.
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“I was the first female Kurdish councillor elected in Islington, and today I have been overwhelmed with calls from members of the Islington Kurdish community, BAME councillors across London and the constituents I’ve helped, who have heard about what happened last night. I have promised them all that I will fight on.
“I have been shortlisted in St Peter’s ward, where I live on the Packington estate, and will be standing for selection there this evening. I hope that the party members of St Peter’s will select me so that I can continue to champion the voices of minorities, women and supporters of a more diverse and representative Labour Party.”
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Cllr Paul Smith, speaking in his role as deputy leader of the Labour group, said: “The Labour party has 7,000 members and the community has been having a democratic selection process. I’m very confident of having a strong group of candidates who reflect the community we live in. The process is ongoing and we think it’s highly likely we will have more women than ever before and a very representative group of BAME candidates.”
