An MP has come under fire for being “out of touch” due to a statement made in a campaign leaflet.

A leaflet from the Barnet Conservative Party, specifically citing Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer as a “local champion”, has come under fire for including “disingenuous” facts over investments in the Barnet library service.

The leaflet mentions a figure of £7million of investment in libraries and praises the renovations of Church End and Childs Hill libraries .

However, constituents are affronted as they feel the libraries have been reduced and cut, with the recent changes to services and reduction in staffing hours being the most contentious issue.

Campaigner for Save Barnet Libraries Emily Burnham said: “Politicians may try and spin bad news but it is frankly ludicrous for Mike Freer to suggest that the library service is receiving ‘investment’.

“Staff, space, books, computers and access to the libraries has been slashed. North Finchley and Golders Green libraries, described by Mike Freer as “renovated” have lost their children’s rooms.”

“I am disgusted that my local MP is so out of touch with the reality of the situation with Barnet In libraries.”

In recent changes to the library service many libraries were closed for prolonged periods to allow for the implementation of electronic access, so the libraries will be able to remain open during unstaffed hours.

But there have been concerns that with less staffing in libraries, young people may not have the same access as previously and the toilet facilities in each library will no longer be able to be used.

Leader of Barnet Labour, Cllr Barry Rawlings, said: “It is completely misleading and ridiculous to say Barnet Council is refurbishing or investing in libraries - they are spending millions of pounds reducing library floor space so there will be fewer books and fewer librarians.

“This is not investment it is vandalism.”

Local parent and Labour council candidate Lisa Pate said her children no longer want to use the Childs Hill library after the changes.

She said: “Childs Hill is no longer a fully functioning library, with hours slashed, fewer books and no professional librarians. My teenagers cannot study there alone and my other children no longer wish to visit.”

Mr Freer has addressed these comments and said unlike nearby Labour councils, all the libraries in Barnet have been able to stay open with the changes to staffing.

He said: “While Labour Brent Council closed half their libraries Barnet found capital to refurbish premises, invest in new technology, register more than 15,000 self-service users, and extend opening hours by 100 hours, plus one brand new library with expanded community facilities.

“By any definition that is an investment. Across the UK libraries are closing because of declining usage. Barnet choose to move to a modern operating model top ensure Libraries were sustainable and well placed to attract new users.”

Cllr Reuben Thompstone, chairman of the children, education, and libraries committee said: "Barnet Conservatives were elected on the pledge to keep every one of our 14 libraries open in the face of national budget cuts and we have made good on that promise.

"Any decision to close libraries is a political one. Where Labour-run Brent closed half their libraries, Conservative Barnet invested £7 million in Self-Service technology and refurbishments instead.

"The transformation of the service has been so successful that almost 12,000 residents have signed up already — and some were not even library members beforehand."