Catherine West wins the newly created seat of Hornsey and Friern Barnet

Former Hornsey and Wood Green MP becomes one of four MPs to represent part of Barnet borough, local democracy reporter Grace Howarth reports

Catherine West became one of four MPs to represent part of the Barnet borough as she won the new Hornsey and Friern Barnet seat for the Labor Party.

The whole area constituency comprises the borough of Friern Barnet – formerly part of the seat of Chipping Barnet – together with most of the western part of the borough of Haringey.

West previously represented the now-defunct Hornsey and Wood Green constituency.

The result was announced at Alexandra Palace in the early hours of Friday morning, after voting took place in the general election on Thursday (4).

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporter after her victory was announced, the Labor MP said her approach to the new constituency would be “similar” to the old one, but knowing the local authority in Barnet was “a bit more complex”.

She said: “I think the issues are similar, it’s housing. Many young people do not necessarily have the same opportunities as in other parts of London where incomes are higher.

“There is inequality, some people are doing very well, have their own home, and others are in temporary housing or struggling with the housing conditions they have.

“The other thing that will be a bit more complex is that there will be a whole new set of relationships in Barnet, getting to know the officials there, getting to know the new situation.”

At the podium, West described years of “chaos and confusion” the country had lived through during the last 14 years of Tory rule and thanked Haringey Council for its “best efforts” with London’s “hardworking” mayor.

West also promised to tackle “growing queues” outside food banks, advocate for people “stuck” in temporary accommodation, reduce waiting lists for mental health services and tackle the climate crisis.

The Greens and Liberal Democrats finished second and third respectively, while the Conservatives were further back in fourth.

Hornsey and Friern Barnet full result

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