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Luciana Berger on course for victory in Finchley and Golders Green, poll suggests
Exclusive: Survation poll puts former Labour MP turned Lib Dem challenger eight points ahead of Tory incumbent
October 16, 2019 09:57
Exclusive: Survation poll puts former Labour MP turned Lib Dem challenger eight points ahead of Tory incumbent
October 16, 2019 09:57Luciana Berger is set to achieve an extraordinary victory in Finchley and Golders Green after a new poll suggested she had an eight point lead over Tory MP Mike Freer.
A seat poll conducted by the pollsters Survation revealed the Liberal Democrat candidate would win 33 per cent if an election were held now - with Mr Freer in second receiving 25 per cent.
The survey suggested Jeremy Corbyn's Labour - who came within 1,600 votes of clinching the north London seat in the 2017 general election - now trail in third place with a 21 per cent vote share.
If the same result were replicated in a forthcoming general election it would represent a dramatic turn-around in fortunes for Jo Swinson's party - who had secured only 3,500 votes in the seat in 2017 as Mr Freer secured victory over Labour candidate Jeremy Newmark.
The Survation poll, which was conducted on October 2, was the first to be done since Ms Berger was announced as the Lib Dem candidate in Finchley and Golders Green.
The survey result represents a surge to the Lib Dems of nearly 25 per cent compared to the last election, while support for the Tory Party in the area has reduced dramatically, having previously stood at 47 per cent in 2017.
Labour's support has collapsed, reducing by more than 50 per cent, following Mr Corbyn’s appalling handling of antisemitism in the Party, and the neutral stance the party has adopted on Brexit.
In May's European elections, the Lib Dems won every ward in Finchley and Golders Green and in the 2016 European Union referendum 69 per cent of voters supported Remain.
Survation had asked a representative sample of 400 people in the Finchley and Golders Green seat how they would vote, "if there were a general election tomorrow."
The poll gave the names of both the Tory and Lib Dem candidates.
Reacting to the poll, Ms Berger said: “This poll is extremely encouraging for our party, and emphasises the support that we are receiving every day on the doorstep across Finchley and Golders Green.
“People want to see an end to this Brexit chaos.
"They don’t want a Conservative MP who is facilitating a calamitous campaign of taking the country to a no-deal cliff-edge.
“Liberal Democrats demand better for the people of Finchley and Golders Green – who deserve an MP that represents their progressive, inclusive values and stands up for them.
“A vote for me at the next election is a vote to stop Brexit."
Mr Freer has been approached for comment.
Survation also published separate figures which showed the Lib Dems on 41 per cent, the Tories on 29 per cent and Labour on 25 per cent, when those who answered "don’t know" or "yet to make up mind" were discounted.
Labour has yet to name its candidate to fight the seat after Sara Conway pulled out the race, citing family reasons last month.
Ms Berger was first elected as the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree in 2010 but quit the party in February after antisemitic bullying from party memebrs in the years since Mr Corbyn became leader.
One member of her local party was forced to withdraw a motion tabled at the start of the year that called her a “disruptive Zionist.”
The Metropolitan Police are continuing to investigate allegations of hate crimes against Ms Berger and two other Labour MPs. She had police prorection at last year's Labour conference in Liverpool.
After quitting Mr Corbyn’s party, she initially joined Change UK, which she also later quit.
Ms Berger announced she had joined the Lib Dems last month and was confirmed as the candidate in Finchley and Golders Green on September 26.
There was speculation last week that Liberal Judaism Rabbi Danny Rich had confirmed his intention to stand for selection as athe Labour candidate for the seat.
But he told the JC on Wednesday: "I have been supporting the candidature of Councillor Ross Houston, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, who is a friend and well-known locally.”
