Gay councillor to fight key Tory target
Gay Barnet Council leader Mike Freer has been selected as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Finchley Golders Green, for the next General Election.
Mr Freer was selected last night by the local Party to represent former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s old constituency, a number one target for the Conservatives.
He is currently leader of the Council at London Borough of Barnet and represents Finchley Church End as a local Councillor.
He was selected as a Parliamentary Candidate in nearby Harrow West for the 2005 General Election where he slashed Labour’s 2001 majority by 66%
Mr Freer said: “It is huge honour to be selected to fight the seat with such a rich history. Finchley Golders Green is a diverse community and I intend to build on my longstanding links with these communities to ensure I continue to serve to the best of my ability.”
He has been a long and active campaigner in Conservative politics since joining the party in the early 1980s.
First elected to Barnet Council in 1990, he gained the St. Paul’s seat from Labour.
Though he lost his position in the Conservative rout of 1994, he came back to win the Finchley ward by election in 2001, exceeding all expectations by achieving a whopping 6 per cent swing in his favour, even though the Conservatives trailed badly in the opinion polls
In 2002, cllr Freer and others led the Conservatives back to power in Barnet Council after a gap of eight years.
He marks another accomplishment for the Tory party leader David Cameron’s aim of having more gay candidates.
His approval follows the backing of lesbian businesswoman Margot James in Stourbridge last week.
