Conservative Peter Zinkin wins Golders Green by-election
The election took place following the death, in December, of Melvin Cohen, Barnet's longest-serving and much-respected councillor, who had twice served as mayor of the borough.
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Conservative candidate Peter Zinkin has comfortably won a by-election in Golders Green, which took place following the death of much-respected and longest-serving member in the borough Melvin Cohen.
Zinkin, who has been chair at Golders Green Synagogue, secured 1,623 votes (66 per cent) in the Barnet ward, with Labour’s Sue Waller finishing second with 547 votes, (23 per cent).
Former Tory MEP Brendan Donnelly stood as a Rejoin EU candidate and secured 99 votes to finish third.
The Green Party came fourth with 3.9 per cent of the vote.
The Liberal Democrats candidate James Goldman trailed in fifth place picking up 65 votes.
Zinkin, who had previously chaired Barnet’s Conservative Group on the council, is a well-known and much respected figure in the both inside and outside the borough of Barnet.
He was a trustee and vice-President of the United Synagogue for six years.
Golders Green is seen as the safest Conservative ward in Barnet.
Prior to Zinkin’s victory, which was confirmed on Thursday evening, former Mayor of Barnet Melvyn Cohen had represented the ward since 1982, until his death in December.
Cllr Cohen twice served as mayor of the borough. He was also cabinet member for planning from 2004 to 2010 and served as the chair of the constitution and general purposes committee.
His son Dean continues to represent the same ward as a councllor.
Tory party chairman Greg Hands tweeted that the by-election result was “excellent” for his party, and claimed it showed a recovery for the Conservatives in London.
Turnout was 27 per cent, down from 37 per cent in the full borough elections.
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