Politics can often be a grubby business as rival parties go to almost any lengths to discredit their opponents and win votes.

And local politics is no exception, with political point-scoring and heated exchanges between candidates common in the run-up to elections.

But two neighbours in Barnet are refusing to let politics harm their friendship as they run for rival political groups.

Charles Harvey, a 66-year-old school librarian who lives in The Drive, in Golders Green, is a Labour Party candidate for the Golders Green ward.

His next-door neighbour, Adele Ward, 60, works for a publisher and is a candidate for the Green Party.

They have known each other since Adele moved to the area in 1998 after spending four years in Italy – and have been friends ever since.

Charles said: “We belong to different political parties but have a strong common interest. We compare notes on what our parties are doing. Certain policies, for example the mayor’s action on air pollution, we don’t disagree on.”

While Labour and the Greens are not too far apart ideologically, there are some key differences – mainly on a national level – between the candidates’ views.

Adele said: “There are some environmental ones that I don’t see how Labour can resolve. We would stop HS2, Trident, and Hinkley C. I can’t see how Labour can do that – the unions’ remit is to protect the jobs

“As we are not funded by corporates and unions, we are freer.”

The two candidates were both staunch supporters of the remain campaign during the EU referendum, and they share a common interest in the Irish border.

Adele said: “I come from Northern Ireland and have been very concerned about the Irish situation. Theresa Villiers said it would not matter – but I think it has become a big issue.”

Charles, who has Irish ancestry on both Catholic and Protestant sides, said: “I have an interest in Irish affairs, and having crossed the border both by car and by bicycle, I am aware of the advantages of a free travel area.”

At a local level, the two candidates agree on many issues, such as the need for affordable housing and environmental protections, which the Labour mayor of London has backed strongly.

And after 20 years as neighbours, their friendship shows no sign of weakening.

Adele said: “My son took up drums, and when Charles heard that, he gave me some drumsticks for my son. We often chat over the fence.

“In all the time we have been friendly, I never remember an argument with Charles. He is a great neighbour in all ways.”

Adele and Charles both stood in the last set of council elections, and Charles gave his neighbour a lift to the count.

“The count was in a hard-to-get-to place, and as a typical Green I don’t drive,” Adele said.

“We got on the platform, and I think I surprised everyone. Charles got a good vote, and when I heard I was so thrilled I celebrated. People were looking a bit taken aback.”

Adele said their relationship, and the clean campaigning they take part in, is not always the norm in local politics.

“When I first stood, I was surprised how much abuse I got,” she said. “I am pretty sure, as a woman as well, we are seen as easier to get rid of.”

Adele said she had been told to stand down, and one candidate even told her people could die if she split the vote and the Tory Party was elected.

But Charles insisted that friendships can endure even major political differences.

“When I first lived here, there was a fairly right-wing Tory from Northern Ireland on one of the floors above,” he said. “We were perfectly friendly neighbours despite a big political difference.”

Both candidates agreed that while apathy had been a problem in previous elections, that was not the case this time around.

They said people in Golders Green were very concerned about issues such as library closures and the lack of affordable housing, which has been forcing some of the area’s close-knit communities apart.

“The problem is, people are offered shared ownership and still they can’t afford that,” Adele said. “The community here needs properties so they can stay as a community.”

“My impression is there is more at stake, both at a local level, and a national level with things like Brexit,” Charles added.

“The council is on a knife-edge.”