UK Parliament Speaker Lindsay Hoyle upsets divided island with official visit to Cyprus

Trip risks upsetting supporters of the north's breakaway Turkish-backed administration

Lindsay Hoyle becomes the first speaker of the House of Commons to officially visit Cyprus. PA Media

The Speaker of the UK House of Commons embarked on an official visit to Cyprus on Monday, but in the process risks upsetting the divided island’s Turkish-Cypriot community.

Lindsay Hoyle becomes the first Speaker of the Commons to make the trip to the Mediterranean island after an official invite from his Cypriot opposite number – who will host a dinner in his honour.

During his three-day visit, Mr Hoyle will also meet the Cypriot president and foreign minister of the internationally recognised government, which controls the majority of the island and is a member of the EU.

But he is not expected to meet the Turkish-Cypriot breakaway administration that runs the north of Cyprus, and is only recognised by Turkey.

The Council of Turkish Cypriots Association UK urged Mr Hoyle to “take this valuable opportunity” and extend his visit to the north of the island.

The council said a visit “would show equality and step forward for new negotiations between” the UK government and the Turkish-Cypriot administration.

Cyprus has been split since 1974 when Turkey invaded northern Cyprus following a brief Greek-backed coup. Repeated diplomatic efforts to find a solution have failed to make headway.

While much of the international community and the recognised Cypriot government favour a federal solution, Turkey and the administration in the north back a two-state future.

The UK is one of three guarantor countries of Cypriot independence under a convoluted 1960 treaty.