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Election Watch Photography graduate Matthew Offord and local politician is working towards defeating the incumbent Labour MP Andrew Dismore who made the headlines this week for alleged "flipping" of a second home, Election Watch speaks to Offord to find out how the Conservative party were planning to take Hendon at the next general election.
By John Kaponi
Editor-in-Chief
The current majority held by the Labour party of 2,699 votes based on the current opinion polls, in theory, should see Hendon go to the Tories, leading the "charge" is a young Conservative who serves as Cabinet member for Community Engagement and Community Safety in Barnet Council. Offord describes his approach as:
"Individuals make better choices about their own lives than politicians".
In terms of the "pressing issues" facing Hendon, health is at the top of the agenda with Offord underlining his concern that "the repositioning of health services of services away from the Royal Free and the possible merger with the Whittington Hospital will cause Hendon people many problems".
Hendon boasts one of the largest Jewish communities in the United Kingdom and private security firms play a major role in patrolling the streets of the area, Offord raised the concerns of many regarding the "pervasive" nature of the private firms and said:
"People are obviously concerned and the issue of burglaries are so serious that people are paying to have their own security, but I want to know how these security firms work, for example with the police and the local authority.
"I was in Totteridge recently and there is a lot of concern by people about security of homes there".
Education is one of the other "pressing issues" for Hendon residents, and is home to some of the leading Jewish schools in the UK; Offord supports the Conservatives policy initiated by Michael Gove the Education Shadow Secretary and said:
"In terms of faith schools it is our policy to establish more 'faith schools' and funds to establish them and bring them into the state sector, an idea welcomed by Jewish community leaders in Hendon".
The expansion or redevelopment of the A406 or the North Circular is an issue that Offord has invested considerable time into lobbying for a 'viable' solution for the area, and welcomed the initiative by Transport for London which proposes a £54 million investment announced earlier this year.
Offord a member of the Conservative Frieds of Israel, places a great deal of importance to another "foreign policy issue" and has established strong links with Cyprus and said the following during a recent visit to Cyprus:
"It is almost incredulous that the only divided city is in Europe. The issue of Cyprus should be an issue of interest to all MP's even if a Cypriot community does not exist in the constituency".
Speaking on the Andrew Dismore expenses issue which made the press this week Offord said:
"I live in Hendon and live just along from the town hall, I intend to remain living here in Hendon and not claim for a second home, I will commute on the tube everyday from Parliament".
Offord who recently announced his engagement to his long-term partner Claire has run the London Marathon, and likens his campaign become MP to that of a long Marathon and said:
"I am under no illusions how tough a competitor Andrew Dismore is, I plan to work hard during and after campaign for the people of Hendon". photo credit: London Daily News
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