Labor is targeting Jewish voters in Barnet amid concerns about confidence in Starmer’s party

Labor is targeting Jewish voters in Barnet over fears the party is yet to “seal the deal” to convince the community that under Keir Starmer the party has “changed for good”.

The Jewish News understands party chiefs have been alarmed by a series of reports claiming Labor is poised for a home run in all three so-called “throwback” seats – Finchley and Golders Green, Chipping Barnet and Hendon.

With the 4th of July election just weeks away, canvassers’ reports on the ground gave a less conclusive verdict, particularly among Jewish voters in the Hendon and Chipping Barnet seats.

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In a bid to boost confidence in Starmer’s party in the Hendon constituency, a leaflet signed by four of the most prominent female Jewish figures has now been circulated in the seat.

The leaflet, clearly aimed at voters in the community, notes the appalling rise in anti-Semitism since the October 7 Hamas attacks and calls for the release of the hostages and an end to the war with Hamas.

With photos of Mrs. Margaret Hodge, Luciana Berger, Mrs. Louise Ellman and Baroness Anderson, it then states: “We are proud to be Jewish. That is why we have been leaders in the fight against antisemitism in the Labor Party.

“We have confronted and defeated racists and purveyors of hate. We are proud that under Keir Starmer, Labor has changed for good.”

There are also fears that, following the unveiling of Labour’s manifesto last week, the policy pledge on Israel/Palestine, which called for the recognition of a Palestinian state before any peace process is concluded, has raised concerns among some Jewish voters.

A senior party figure admitted The Jewish News: “The idea that all three Barnet seats are already in the bag is fiction.

“Whatever happens elsewhere in the country on election night, we recognize that the results in Finchley and Golders Green, Hendon and Chipping Barnet are likely to be close. History tells us that these seats have always produced close election results.

“That’s why we don’t take any vote, including those in the Jewish community, for granted.”

Another Labor figure in the borough added: “Barnet is never in Labour’s bag, we haven’t done the deal yet. The polls that suggest we have are very misleading.”

Labor secured a historic victory in Barnet in the 2022 local elections, a victory that proved a massive boost to Starmer’s leadership.

The Labor leader arrived in Barnet to celebrate that victory with excited local campaigners and hailed it as conclusive proof that the decision to put the fight against anti-Semitism at the heart of his mission was justified.

The Jewish News understands that Starmer’s closest advisers, including Morgan McSweeney, his electoral guru, are now keen to see Labor pick up the three Barnet parliamentary seats as part of the leader’s possible move to 10 Downing Street.

But electoral history shows that this will not be a foregone conclusion.

Leaflet being delivered to Jewish voters in Hendon

In Chipping Barnet, the Conservatives have held the seat since it was first created in 1974. The Conservative candidate this time around Theresa Villiers was previously elected there since 2005.

For Labour, Dan Tomlinson is trying to overturn a majority of 1,212 on July 4.

In Finchley and Golders Green, the Conservatives have held the seat since 2010 under Mike Freer, who announced he would quit politics before this election due to security concerns.

Alex Deane is the Conservative candidate, with Sarah Sackman trying to overturn a 6,595 Tory majority in 2019.

Reports last weekend suggested Labour’s hopes of taking the seat could be boosted by the return of around 2000 students to the constituency after their university term ends.

In Hendon, the Conservatives have re-held the seat since 2010, with Matthew Offord resigning as MP before this election.

Ameet Jogia is standing for the Conservatives this time, with David Pinto-Duschinsky trying to overturn a 4,230 majority for Rishi Sunak’s party.

The Liberal Democrats, Reform Britain and the Greens are also fielding candidates in all three seats.

Eyebrows have also been raised in Labor circles by reports that the party is heading for victory in the seat of Hertsmere.

Conservative Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden last won the seat in 2019 with a majority of 21,000.

He faces a challenge from young Labor candidate and former Gogglebox TV star Josh Tapper.

But while the Barnet seats are on Labour’s list of battleground seats, Hertsmere remains an unlikely hope for the party, although they are well ahead in the national opinion polls.