Oh what a tangled web we weave:

The mayor of Enfield has said a bike ride that led to him being accused of breaking lockdown rules was “not a social occasion”.

Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, who said he was speaking in a personal capacity, told a council meeting the journey was undertaken “to speak to a local business” and had been “misinterpreted” by councillors and residents.

That’s not what he said when confronted by the person who recognised him and filmed him. He said he was out checking the road and never uttered a word about speaking to a local business. 

Controversy broke out over a post from the mayor’s Twitter account on Sunday that said: “Mayor of Enfield Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, Cllr Ahmet Hasan, Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya are out cycling getting their daily exercise.” Groups of seven? Thought at present we can go out but only meet one other person outside of our house hold???

Government lockdown rules state that exercise is currently only allowed with one other person from another household.

The mayor was also filmed outside a shop with 7 other cyclists and accused of breaking lockdown rules by a passer-by. 

Cllr Ozaydin told the member of the public they were “just cycling”, and when pressed further that they were “testing the cycle lanes”.

Speaking during a full council meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Ozaydin said: “I would like to make a statement relating to an incident a few days ago. To be clear, I am making this statement in my personal capacity, not in the role of mayor of Enfield.

“Myself and two other councillors travelled on Enfield cycle lanes to speak to a local business who had raised a case with us many times. 

We used a cycle lane to promote safe and sustainable travel. This form of travel is much better than being in an enclosed space in the mayoral car”. He’s now appealing to the cycle lobby for support here.

“The mayor’s role is to remain active in the borough, engage with residents, stakeholders, businesses, alongside other councillors. I obtained permission from the mayor’s office, and we were accompanied by a member of staff.

“Indeed, it was the member of staff who put the tweet out. It was not a social occasion, and I regret that some councillors and residents have misinterpreted in this way.”

One rule for them and another rule for us.