The leader of the Labour Party urged people in Hendon considering voting for the Green Party to back Labour – or “you might end up with a Tory”.

Speaking to the Times Series during a visit to Mill Hill earlier today, Ed Miliband said voters had a clear choice between Labour’s parliamentary candidate Andrew Dismore or the Conservatives.

Hendon is one of the most marginal seats in the country, with Conservative MP Matthew Offord holding a majority of 106 – fewer than the Green Party's share of votes at the last election.

The Labour leader said: “What I would say to people thinking about how they vote is that you will have Andrew Dismore or the Tories, and I think we know Andrew is the right choice.

“I would urge anyone deciding between Labour and the Greens to vote for Andrew, because if you vote for someone else, you might end up with a Tory.”

Speaking about the outsourcing of public services to the private sector, he said: “I worry about accountability, and I think Barnet Council is showing the dangers of this approach. They seem to want to flog everything off without regard for local people. What Barnet’s doing is showing why people are right to be deeply concerned.”

He also said he supported Barnet Labour group’s decision to back a one per cent council tax cut last year.

The cut, which came into effect last April and cost the council £1.4m, has received renewed criticism in the light of proposed cuts to Barnet’s library service.

Mr Miliband said: “That’s a decision for the local Labour Party and I will support that decision. What is clear is this is an extreme council with some of the decisions they are making.”

When asked whether a Labour government could reverse cuts, he said there would have to be “common sense reductions” in public spending.

He added: “We would make tax changes at the top of our society. The problem about this government is they have made the cuts but they haven’t cut the deficit as they said they would.”

On the issue of possible coalitions after May’s General Election, he also stressed his desire for a majority government.

“I think we can win a majority Labour government and that’s what we intend to do.”