Turhan Ozen, left, with Haringey Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Richard Wilson after the selection.
Haringey Liberal Democrats have chosen a Turkish candidate to go up against Labour’s David Lammy for the Tottenham parliamentary seat in 2015.
At a packed party meeting on Wednesday evening the Lib Dems voted software engineer Turhan Ozen in as their candidate for Tottenham in the next General Election.
Dr Ozen, 39, has Turkish and Kurdish parentage, has lived in London for 17 years and has a doctorate in engineering.
The Holloway resident previously stood as a council candidate in Islington in 2010 and is also a candidate for the European elections this May.
Mr Lammy is already confirmed to defend his seat for Labour in Tottenham, but also said in October last year that he was “seriously considering” throwing his hat into the ring for selection as Labour’s candidate in the London Mayoral election in 2016.
“I will fight to make sure that ordinary residents are heard in the plans to regenerate Tottenham to make sure that this transformation benefits them and does not move ahead disregarding their concerns and objections.”
Turhan Ozen
Dr Ozen said he was “honoured” to have been chosen and “will be working hard for the people of Tottenham who are struggling with the increasing cost of living and unemployment”.
He added: “I will fight to make sure that ordinary residents are heard in the plans to regenerate Tottenham to make sure that this transformation benefits them and does not move ahead disregarding their concerns and objections.
“I am also delighted to join the Haringey Liberal Democrat team, who have worked hard for many years to help residents and hold the local Labour council to account.”
Cllr Richard Wilson, leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats, said: “Turhan Ozen is a great candidate for Tottenham and has already been out campaigning in Tottenham and helping residents with problems. He would make an excellent Member of Parliament for an area which desperately needs better representation after being taken for granted by Labour for so long.”
Turhan Ozen, centre, with other Liberal Democrat candidates after being selected to run against Labour MP David Lammy for the Tottenham constituency.Dr Ozen co-founded Liberal Democrat Friends of Turkey and is on the executive at Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats, a platform for championing equalities and human rights.