Victorious Conservative candidate Mike Freer has said the Labour Party’s “problem with antisemitism” may have contributed to his win in Finchley and Golders Green

Mr Freer was returned to Parliament last night with a majority of 1,657, down from 5,662 in 2015. He managed to hold on, while many of his Tory colleagues fell to Labour rivals.

He told the JC: “Clearly Labour’s problem with antisemitism would have weighed heavily on (Jewish people’s) minds. In terms of what we’re feeling the Jewish community have stuck with me and got us over the line.”

Mr Freer acknowledged it was a disappointing night nationally for the Conservative, with the party failing to secure an overall majority, but said it was to early to pinpoint where it went wrong.

“We don’t know who came out and voted, and without knowing the demographics of it we can’t say if it was Theresa May herself, or our manifesto, or Labour’s manifesto. We don’t know if the young people came out and voted, for example.

“It seems the biggest issue was Brexit. The full result isn’t in yet but we will see if Theresa May can form a government – especially with the Brexit negotiations starting soon.”

He thanked the Finchley and Golders Green voters, saying it was an “amazing feeling” to be recognised for his work in representing his constituents.

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