Candidates vying to be the next MP in Hendon answered questions ranging from coalitions to social media at a hustings.

Hundreds turned out for the event in Mill Hill Synagogue in Station Road last night, which was chaired by Rabbi Yitzchak Y Schochet and attended by contenders from each party.

Asked his preference for a coalition partner, Liberal Democrat Alasdair Hill said it was “very important” his party negotiated with the party with the most seats.

He added: “We think we have done very well in ensuring this coalition has stayed in the centre ground.”

Green candidate Ben Samuel was pressed on his party’s policies on an EU-Israel trade deal, and a mandatory labelling of meat products.

He said: “I absolutely defend the Jewish way of life. The Jewish community themselves have asked me to back human rights, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m standing up for human rights.”

Mr Samuel added that he did not back a cultural boycott.

Labour’s Andrew Dismore said he would have voted against last year's motion in Parliament to recognise Palestine, and that the balance had slightly shifted within the parliamentary party due to a few pro-Israel MPs losing their seats in 2010.

He added: “I think one of the real problems we’ve got is to try and make sure that Israel does not become a political football between the two main parties.”

Mr Dismore also ruled out a deal with the SNP, and accused the Conservatives of “undermining the union” through their rhetoric on the Scottish nationalists.

On the SNP, Conservative Matthew Offord said: “What we do know from polling is Labour is predicted to be wiped out by the SNP. We all know Nicola Sturgeon is bending over backwards to get Ed Miliband into Downing Street.

“We shouldn’t forget, not only was this the guy that knifed his own brother in the back, I’m sure he would knife the country in the back.”

Mr Offord also slammed Labour for trotting out the line that “everyone is on a zero-hour contract", and said one in 50 was, and that some people preferred them.

UKIP’s Raymond Shamash faced questions on immigration and racism. He said: “I wrestled with this question and expected it to be asked. Morally we should probably let them all in.

“We at the moment have 300,000 people a year coming to this country. These people don’t share our Judeo-Christian values, and if they’re allowed to come here freely, they will eventually permanently change our society.”

The panel also answered questions on Iran, affordable housing, social media and education.