Labour is making efforts to win back the historically significant Finchley and Golders Green constituency in London, with candidate Sarah Sackman appealing to the area’s substantial Jewish electorate and aiming to regain trust after antisemitism controversies. The upcoming election is shaping up to be a close contest against Conservative candidate Alex Deane, with key issues such as education and antisemitism in focus.
Labour’s Battle to Reclaim Finchley and Golders Green
Labour is actively seeking to regain the Finchley and Golders Green constituency in London, an area once represented by Margaret Thatcher and known for its significant Jewish electorate. In the 2019 general election, under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, Labour fell to third place in this constituency, significantly impacted by antisemitism controversies.
Sarah Sackman, Labour’s candidate, is campaigning to convince Jewish voters that the party, now led by Sir Keir Starmer, has reformed. Jewish voters make up 21% of the electorate in Finchley and Golders Green, the highest in any UK constituency. Sackman aims to restore trust, noting that high-profile Jewish figures who previously left Labour have returned.
The upcoming election is expected to be highly competitive: a recent YouGov poll shows a tight race between Sackman and Conservative candidate Alex Deane, with both contenders nearly evenly split in voter support.
While Deane acknowledges Labour’s efforts to address antisemitism, he remains unconvinced that the party has completely resolved its issues from the Corbyn era. He highlights ongoing Labour divisions over the Gaza conflict, whereas he strongly supports Israel.
Additionally, Deane proposes a tax rebate for parents who opt for private schooling, a significant issue given the high number of children in Jewish private schools in Barnet.
As the election approaches, the Labour and Conservative candidates continue their campaigns, addressing local concerns such as the cost of living and education, alongside broader political issues.
