DESPITE no firm date being set for the next general election, the race for one of the borough's three parliamentary seats heated up this week with Mike Freer's announcement to stand down as leader of Barnet Council.

The move leaves him clear to focus his attentions on his campaign to become a member of parliament by winning the Finchley and Golders Green seat, but he admits he is taking nothing for granted.

The conservatives need a 0.2 per cent swing to clinch the seat, which is currently held by Rudi Vis, who has announced himself he plans to stand down at the next election.

The ballot papers will also feature the name of Barnet Labour group leader Councillor Alison Moore, and Cllr Freer said he is ready to carry on their political sparring during the national contest.

He said: “There's no such thing as a sure thing. So we are fighting hard to ensure that we have a win whenever the general election is called.

“The good thing about living locally, is that if I were to be elected I could hit the ground running.”

Despite controversies around his decisions as leader of the council, Cllr Freer feels they only go to show he is “willing to challenge established practices”.

Polices such as the so called “Easy Council” and warden cuts, and money losses in Icelandic banks, have been unpopular with large groups of residents and opposition parties, but he does not feel that will adversely affect him at the polls.

He said: “At least people know what they're getting. The fact is that if I am fortunate enough to be elected people know they will get a person who is willing to challenge established practices, to fight hard for local people.

“Whether people like our proposals, they might not like the detail, but they cannot deny that it is about fighting for a better deal for Barnet.”

Cllr Freer admitted he knows his weaknesses and said “there are always things you can do differently”.

In a subtle reference to treasury manager Patrick Towey, who resigned in light of revelations incorrect procedures were followed in the lead up to £27.4 million being placed in the collapsed Icelandic banks, Cllr Freer recognised the whole debacle may have been one of his biggest regrets.

“Perhaps one of the mistakes was that I trusted officers to do their jobs, and if they let you down, you have to say 'could I have checked more?'” he said.

“Sometimes you get let down and you have to learn from the experience.

“If officers can tell me the truth, however problematic that is, you can deal with it. If they don't tell you and it comes out, you have to chop their legs off.

“If you have a finance director and an assistant finance director who are very highly paid and they tell you the procedures have been followed you have a right to rely on them.”

But he feels his perceived successes and failures have readied him for a potential stint as an MP.

Cllr Freer said: “Iv no doubt it will be a huge change and a huge challenge.

“I don't think anyone can be prepared to be a member of parliament until they have been elected, but throughout my working career iv always relished change and adapted quickly.”