AS part of our build-up to the General Election on May 6 the Times Series is featuring a candidate profile for each of the main candidates in the three constituencies in Barnet.

Today we focus on Alison Moore, the Labour candidate for the Finchley and Golders Green constituency.

For comprehensive election coverage, click here.

THE Labour parliamentary candidate for Finchley and Golders Green believes “it is all to play” in the General Election campaign.

Leader of the Labour group on Barnet Council, Alison Moore, is aiming to hold on to the seat which has been Labour controlled since 1997.

The 51-year-old is the Party's representative after Rudi Vis, who this week announced he has incurable cancer, declared much earlier that he did not intent to stand for re-election.

Research scientist Ms Moore has been on the council since 1998 and was campaign agent to Mr Vis in his marginal victory in 2005.

And she believes her “dogged, resolute and determined to get things done” attitude will keep her in the running and claimed the Party in the constituency had a history of “bucking the trend” when opinion polls were against them.

She said: “I am clear that it is all to play for.

“The result nationally and in Finchley and Golders Green is by no means a foregone conclusion no matter what the Tories may be putting out.

“People on the doorsteps realise there is a real choice to go forward in this election and there is a tension and concern about going back to the Tories who, despite the new clothes and warm words, are still pretty Thatcherite at heart.

“I think the reality in parliamentary elections is there's a balance between the strength of local characters and their record verses the national swing.

“Inevitably there is strong influence from national politics but that doesn't mean that locally you cant buck the trend. There's certainly a real challenge here.”

Ms Moore pledges to defend hospital services, work for a fair deal for older residents and promote a more sustainable environment, and believes strongly that her experiences of being a councillor will aid her in achieving those aims if she were to become MP.

She said: “Having been a councillor both in opposition and in administration I have had experience of taking tough decision, balancing evidence, and carefully considering the impact of those decisions people across Barnet.

“I have the experience of holding a pretty arrogant Tory administration to account and laying bare some of their really bad decisions.”

Despite standing for the parliamentary seat, Ms Moore is also contesting to hold onto her seat as ward councillor for East Finchley.

But she believes that is not a sign of she wants to ensure a fall back if either of the campaigns fails. She said: “I would not take the electorate of East Finchley and Golders Green for granted. I am pledging that I want to serve the people of the area in one way or another.

“This is going to be a difficult election and I would be naïve to take anything for granted. But I believe I have a job to do whether as an MP or councillor.”