The Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green has insisted a vote for Liberal Democrat candidate Luciana Berger at a general election could “allow Jeremy Corbyn’s candidate to sneak in through the middle”.

Speaking to the JC after Ms Berger was confirmed to be standing in the marginal seat, MP Mike Freer said he also believed Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson would “work together with Labour to create an alternative government”.

Mr Freer, who was re-elected MP in the constituency with Britain’s largest Jewish vote with a tiny majority in 2017, disputed claims that he now faced a straight fight with Ms Berger at the next general election.

He said: “I don’t accept that it is that simple. The Lib Dems polled just 6 per cent at the last general election and Corbyn’s Labour, who came a close 2nd in 2017, will fight hard.

“Labour will be counting on the Lib Dems taking enough votes from me to let them win.

“The danger being that voting Lib Dems and not for me could allow Corbyn’s candidate to sneak in through the middle, not just in Finchley and Golders Green but across the country and handing Corbyn the keys to No.10.”

He added: “Only a vote for me will ensure the seat isn’t handed to Corbyn’s candidate or the Lib Dems and a Corbyn Coalition of Labour/Lib Dems and the SNP. We know the Lib Dems and the SNP will work together with Labour to create an alternative government.”

Mr Freer accepted that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s popularity with the local electorate was also a factor — but he was keen to stress his own record in Finchley and Golders Green since becoming MP a decade ago.

“Inevitably a General Election is overshadowed by national campaigns and personalities and that is as true for me as for the other parties,” said Mr Freer.

“Ten years of delivering for local people is a strong track record — for instance, protecting shechita, securing security funding for Jewish schools and communal premises. This is alongside delivering Henley’s Corner junction improvements, the purpose-built breast screening services, getting residential squatting banned, fighting the mansion tax ... all of which were and are significant local issues.”

Mr Freer also denied he had shifted his position over Brexit since the 2016 referendum in which he was a firm supporter to Remain.

“I haven’t shifted my position one iota. I have never supported a no-deal Brexit and I still don’t.

“I have consistently voted for a deal.

“As a democrat I do believe that we should respect the referendum result and the PM should have every tool at his disposal.

“The PM knows I will support a deal but I will not support a no-deal exit if one is not forthcoming at the EU Council on October 17 and 18.”

Labour have yet to select their candidate to fight the north London seat following the shock decision of their candidate Sara Conway to stand down last month.

Responding to Mr Freer’s comments, Ms Berger told the JC: “The situation today is entirely different to the General Election in 2017.

“Two years on, support locally for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party has collapsed. In May of this year, the Liberal Democrats won every single ward in Finchley and Golders Green at the European Election.”

The former Labour MP, who joined the Lib Dems last month, added: “Jo Swinson has categorically and repeatedly ruled out supporting Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister, whether before or after a general election.”

She added: “At this next election, the residents of Finchley and Golders Green will have the opportunity to make a positive choice about who best represents their values and their vision: the Conservatives led by Boris Johnson who is taking us to the no deal precipice, or the Liberal Democrats who under Jo Swinson want to remain in Europe.”

She also attacked Mr Freer's position on Brexit saying: "There were many Conservative MPs who simply could not, in good conscience, sign Boris Johnson’s No Deal pledge to become a Minister. I commend those MPs who gave up their ministerial positions."

Matt Staples, chair of Finchley and Golders Green Labour Party, said it was obvious that Mr Freer was "running scared and knows his days as an MP are numbered."

Mr Staples added: "He is tied closely to Boris Johnson as a member of his government which has ignored the rule of law, given wrong advice to the Queen and trampled on the constitution.

"Labour’s support is holding up well and we intend to campaign flat out to win the seat. We will put our exciting manifesto before the people of Finchley and Golders Green and also remind them of the Lib Dems’ disastrous record in Government supporting Tory austerity."