My name is Ertan Karpazli and I'm running as an independent MP candidate for the constituency of Enfield North in North London.

Full statement

I have taken the decision to run as an independent because I, like many people, am completely disillusioned with the mainstream political parties, who I believe are not doing enough to improve the living standards of people, both in my constituency, and beyond.

Above all else, I am deeply disturbed by the determination both Labour and the Conservative Party have shown towards making the UK complicit in an ongoing genocide that is taking place before our very eyes. I'm also upset with the unnecessary austerity measures that are disproportionately affecting some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the UK, the detrimental results of which could not be more obvious in impoverished constituencies like the one I am running in.

I believe it is high time we started talking about a 'wealth tax' on the mega rich to ease the pressure off the general public whose blood, sweat and tears have been taken for granted for way too long. If elected MP, I would like to commission this research to a team of experts who could analyse how such a tax could revolutionise the UK economy and ensure that everyone has what they need. There is enough to go around for everybody, and anyone who denies this is a gatekeeper of the UK's notorious class system, which must be broken down immediately and replaced with a much fairer meritocracy. Through this, I believe it is possible to even double the budget for services like the NHS and create a much better country for everyone.

When we shift our focus away from moving money from one place to another and actually start focusing on sustainable wealth generation, I don't see any reason why we can't also lower income taxes, raise the minimum wage, lower the retirement age, increase pensions, improve access to council homes, make higher education free, remove benefit caps, create more jobs, provide free school lunches, support small businesses and community initiatives, fight crime, and much, much more.