Barnet’s Liberal Democrats are in crisis according to two former candidates who say the party is “letting down its members” with a lack of proactive campaigning.

Roger Aitken and Roger Tichborn both stood for the Lib Dems in the 2010 local elections, but have since deserted the party, claiming it lacks ambition.

With just three seats from a possible 63 on Barnet Council, critics believe the party is simply treading water.

In a recent by-election in Brunswick Park, the Lib Dem representative took just 2.8 per cent of the vote.

Group leader, Councillor Jack Cohen, insists the party is holding its own in the borough, but former candidate Mr Aitken believes the recent result is no surprise following his experience when he ran for the party in East Barnet ward in 2010.

The 46-year-old father-of-two, of Jackson Road, said: “If there was a strategy from the Liberal Democrats at a local level, then unfortunately I was not party to it.

“Even when we discussed campaigning, they don’t seem to want to get involved. I wanted a bit more action – we had a platform to get things going, but they weren’t interested.

“I found they were simply saying they were not strong enough and that there was not much point. I felt it was a bit self-defeating. As a member, you feel a bit let down.”

Until 2002, the Liberal Democrats held six seats on Barnet Council, with the previous highest number just seven.

Roger Tichborne, of Mill Way, stood in his home ward of Mill Hill in 2010, but believes the party is still suffering a backlash from voters disillusioned by the coalition.

The father-of-three said: “I felt we ran strong campaigns, but I think a lot of Lib Dem activists were put off by the coalition and the fact they went with the Conservatives.

“The only way the Lib Dems will get their credibility back in Barnet is if they become a centre alternative to the Conservatives.

“Generally, the party has a big worry and it is going to be almost impossible for them to make gains unless something changes.”

Councillor Cohen has been leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Barnet since 2006 and has held his seat in Childs Hill for 25 years.

He claims the party is doing all it can at a local level, but believes the electorate is still reeling from broken promises at a national level.

“I would be stupid to deny there has been a backlash to the coalition. At the moment, I don’t think anyone would deny we punch above our weight locally – we’re very active in speaking out at the council.

“The ward is so big that it is difficult for small parties to get a foothold. Locally, we’re still delivering our leaflets to residents.

“We have fielded candidates in both by-elections, which is more than the Green Party has done, and we have fielded names in every available seat in the borough. People want to vote Lib Dem and we want to give them that opportunity.

“We have to convince people we are different from central Government which is not easy.

“We have to target seats we can realistically win. Unless something remarkable happens nationally, we’re not going to win the majority, so we need to increase our numbers and be realistic.

“We can only do what we’re good at – working hard, helping the people who elected us and telling our residents where the council is going wrong and what we would do differently. Our future is in our own hands.”