In a remarkable show of unity and resolve, the Turkish Cypriot community in the United Kingdom has begun to mobilise on a scale not seen in decades. A series of meticulously crafted letters by TCE addressed to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, and even His Majesty King Charles III, have emerged as a clarion call for equality, respect, and genuine engagement with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

These letters, composed and dispatched by Turkish Cypriots Exist (TCE), a prominent advocacy group within the UK’s Turkish Cypriot diaspora, serve as the latest chapter in a long, often painful story of marginalisation and diplomatic oversight.

A Growing Sense of Injustice  
Recent events have cast a harsh light on Britain’s handling of the Cyprus question, revealing serious doubts about the impartiality and integrity of the UK’s approach. The dismay felt by Turkish Cypriots in Britain stems from the Prime Minister’s continued reluctance to engage with the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), despite the United Kingdom’s role as a guarantor power for the island. Instead, London’s focus has habitually rested with The Greek Leader, neglecting the TRNC’s legitimate leadership and effectively sidelining a community whose voice deserves equal recognition.

TCE’s Three-Pronged Strategy  
The TCE’s campaign involves a three-pronged strategy. First, letters have been sent to the Prime Minister, urging Downing Street to revise its stance and offer a meeting or invitation to the TRNC’s President. The focus here is on Britain’s historical commitments, on the weight of moral and diplomatic responsibility, and on the urgent necessity of real parity between both Cypriot communities. A similar letter has been dispatched to the Foreign Secretary, appealing directly to the UK’s diplomatic apparatus and reminding it that an even-handed approach is not merely an option, but a responsibility.

Appealing to the Crown  
In a move both bold and symbolic, TCE has also appealed to His Majesty the King Charles III. While fully cognisant of the Monarch’s constitutional neutrality, TCE’s letter to Buckingham Palace is not a request for political intervention, something the Crown cannot and would not offer, but rather an appeal to moral leadership, sympathy, and comprehension of the human dimension of the Cyprus issue. The hope, as TCE insiders privately admit, is that any benign acknowledgment of their plight from a figure as unifying and esteemed as the King might nudge the wider British public to pay more attention to their legitimate concerns.

Engaging the Grassroots  
Beyond these high-level moves, TCE has encouraged its members and supporters to write to their local MPs, ensuring that the matter resonates not only in the corridors of Westminster’s most senior offices but also in the constituencies where the British Turkish Cypriot community resides, works, and votes. The strategy is simple: amplify the issue at every level of British political life. If the Prime Minister refuses to engage directly, then perhaps the resulting chorus of parliamentary queries, motions, and debates will force the government’s hand.

A Matter of Dignity and Representation  
For Turkish Cypriots, this campaign is not about political point-scoring. It is, quite simply, about dignity and representation. There is a profound sense that the British Government, in focusing its engagement exclusively on The Greek Leader, continues to treat Turkish Cypriots as second-class players in a game that has long demanded a balanced and respectful approach. The disappointment is particularly acute given that many Turkish Cypriots in the UK are now third, fourth, and even fifth-generation Britons who feel every bit as at home in the UK as their English, Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Irish neighbours. Indeed, countless Turkish Cypriots have received honours such as CBE's and MBEs for their services to local communities, reflecting decades of positive contributions to British society.

Highlighting the Community’s Contributions  
TCE’s letters draw attention to these very contributions. They highlight how Turkish Cypriots in the UK, number in the region of 350,000 people, a sizeable and integrated diaspora spread across business, public service, the arts, finance, and academia. They emphasise the community’s proud record, citing Turkish Cypriots who have risen to become senior police officers, members of the judiciary, the arts, medicine, renowned entrepreneurs, and even MPs. Not long ago, the UK welcomed its first Turkish Cypriot Labour MP, Nesil Çalışkan, whose maiden speech in the House of Commons powerfully recalled her family’s refugee origins and the lingering human cost of the Cyprus conflict.

The British Expatriate Connection  
Equally important is the recognition that some 25,000 British expatriates have long made their home in the TRNC. These UK nationals enjoy the warm hospitality and stability offered in the north, yet remain perplexed as to why their chosen place of residence continues to be overlooked and effectively isolated on the international stage. The refusal to permit direct flights to the TRNC, and the UK's reluctance to so much as acknowledge the TRNC’s leadership, amplifies the sense of alienation. TCE’s letters press for an understanding that British citizens living in the TRNC should not be treated as second-class expatriates, any more than Turkish Cypriots in the UK should be relegated to the sidelines of political consideration.

A Legacy of Loyalty  
This frustration has been simmering for decades. Historically, Turkish Cypriots fought alongside British forces during the violent upheavals in Cyprus, risking and in many cases losing their lives to protect British interests. The community’s loyalty was demonstrated in some of the island’s darkest hours, yet today, it is met with what many view as political indifference, if not outright contempt. The irony is not lost on Turkish Cypriots: while Britain maintains strategic Sovereign Base Areas on the island, it has seemingly abandoned the notion of impartiality that a guarantor power should uphold.

Strategic Realities  
The TRNC’s only formal recognition comes from Türkiye, a key NATO ally boasting the alliance’s second-largest military. This strategic fact ought to weigh heavily on British diplomatic calculations, yet it appears not to register sufficiently in London’s dealings. The UK’s approach, as TCE’s letters argue, not only undermines the TRNC but risks sending confusing and unhelpful signals to allies like Türkiye, signals that may have ripple effects across a region that is already fraught with tensions and competing interests.

The Need for Engagement  
At the root of this campaign is the conviction that the Turkish Cypriot perspective matters. TCE’s founder Arkın Öksüzoğlu believes that so long as London refuses to meet with the TRNC President, it denies itself the opportunity to understand the lived realities, legitimate concerns, and future aspirations of a community that seeks only equality and recognition. TCE’s communications reflect a careful balance of humility and resolve, acknowledging Britain’s constraints but challenging the government’s inertia. They remind their readers that Britain once played a constructive role in conflict resolution elsewhere, particularly in Northern Ireland, proving that, with political will and strategic foresight, it can help guide entrenched parties toward dialogue and reconciliation.

Faith in British Institutions  
What is perhaps most striking about TCE’s strategy is its faith in British institutions. Far from dismissing the UK as indifferent or hostile, TCE invests its energies in the very channels that underpin British democracy: direct appeals to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, respectful letters to the King, and a grassroots mobilisation to contact local MPs. This approach rests on the belief that, in the end, British fairness and decency will prevail, and that the persistent voices of constituents cannot forever be ignored.

Awaiting Change  
The question remains: will these efforts prompt any tangible change? Will the Prime Minister reconsider his stance and acknowledge the TRNC’s leadership? Will the Foreign Secretary take steps to include Turkish Cypriot voices in his briefings and recommendations? Will MPs raise questions in Parliament, pressing the government to explain its current partiality? TCE’s hope is that these letters and emails, arriving in steady streams at the offices of Britain’s political elites, will at least begin to chip away at a monolith of silence and neglect.

TCE Conclusion  
Even if immediate results prove elusive, TCE’s actions have already achieved something important: they have brought the Turkish Cypriot perspective into sharper relief. In making their case directly to Britain’s highest offices and encouraging their community to participate fully in the democratic process, TCE has highlighted the plight of Turkish Cypriots, championed their dignity, and insisted upon their rightful place in the conversation about Cyprus’s future. This is a powerful reminder that even in the face of diplomatic impasses, communities can still find avenues to voice their concerns and advocate for a more equitable vision of international engagement.

In the coming months, as the letters are read and responses (if any) trickle in, Turkish Cypriots and their allies will be watching closely. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have it within their grasp to step forward and engage, or to remain entrenched. The outcome may well have lasting implications not only for relations between the UK and the TRNC, but for the integrity of British foreign policy in a region where trust, fairness, and genuine dialogue are desperately needed. Until then, the Turkish Cypriots Exist group and their supporters remain steadfast, committed to their cause, proud of their contributions to British society, and resolute in their demand for the recognition and engagement that they have so long deserved.