Deputy council leader 'confident' at City Hall prospects

Councillor Dan Thomas spoke about his prospects after he secured the party’s selection for the 2016 London Assembly elections yesterday.

He beat his two opponents, Golders Green councillor Dean Cohen and Camden councillor Tim Barnes, on the first round of voting at Hendon United Synagogue.

Cllr Thomas said: “I am thrilled to secure the backing of so many activists. I am going to have to spend some time in every corner of the constituency. I know Barnet very well, but I have spent a lot of time in Camden.

“My campaign will be across all of the constituency. We are hitting the ground running.

“It is very winnable. I feel very confident, because I think Barnet Council has a good track record and the Conservative government has a good track record. Contrast that to the state of the Labour party at the moment.”

Barnet and Camden is currently represented by Andrew Dismore for Labour. It was previously held by Brian Coleman for the Conservatives between 2000 and 2012.

Cllr Thomas said he would campaign on housing, transport and crime, with one priority being to push for upgrades to the Northern line, and another tackling traffic congestion during rush hour.

The Finchley Church End councillor added: “There is a big problem with big trucks making deliveries during rush hours. I think we need more measures to control delivery times.”

Speaking about the London mayoral campaign, Cllr Thomas said: “I want to work alongside a Conservative mayor. I think Zac Goldsmith has a very good chance of winning. He is in touch with Londoners, he is a strong campaigner, and he is independent minded.

“Labour tend to be negative, and talk things down, and talk success down. Whereas we are very positive, and we have a plan for the future. People want positivity.

“We acknowledge there is more work to be done, but we come up with practical solutions. We don’t just protest from the side lines.”