In Barnet, pre-election campaigning has begun

CONSERVATIVES HAVE been campaigning to win over voters in Barnet — where Labour’s failures last year highlighted Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to tackle the party’s antisemitism crisis — amid speculation a snap general election could soon be called.

Activists hit the icy streets of Chipping Barnet on Sunday in an initiative backed by Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis that was aimed at boosting the chances of MP Theresa Villiers retaining the seat she won with a majority of just 353 at the last election.

The former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has always been a staunch supporter of Israel — a point that was raised with Jewish voters on the doorstep.

At last week’s Conservative Friends of Israel parliamentary reception, the Tory chairman said: “In Barnet in 2018 it was highlighted what a difference that extra bit of effort can make. The effort work you did made sure we won back control of Barnet — and we won divisions by one single vote.”

On Sunday, newspaper reports claimed Downing Street advisers were considering calling an election for June 6, to follow Britain’s scheduled exit from the EU in March and local council elections in May.

But a Downing Street spokesman said the reports were “100 per cent untrue”.

But Tory chiefs are said to be buoyed by recent opinion polls which gave their party a lead of around 6 per cent in the polls — with continued concern over Labour’s approach to Brexit and antisemitism at the heart of many voters’ complaints.

Across Barnet — which includes the constituencies of Finchley and Golders Green, and Hendon — the large Jewish vote will be targeted by the Conservatives in the run up to any election, with Labour’s failings over antisemitism openly stressed.

Labour recently selected Emma Whysall to contest the Chipping Barnet seat again — after she came so close to defeating Ms Villiers in 2017.

But Ms Whysall was targeted with antisemitic abuse because her campaign was backed by the Jewish Labour Movement.

In the neighbouring Finchley and Golders Green seat, Labour has yet to select their candidate to challenge sitting MP Mike Freer.

Jewish Voice For Labour activist Jenny Manson had set her sights on standing for Labour — but the move could infuriate most Jewish voters in seat as JVL challenges the notion Labour has an antisemitism problem.

In Hendon — which Conservative MP Matthew Offord narrowly won at the last election — David Pinto-Duschinsky has been selected to stand for Labour.

Downing Street denies a snap election is on the cards