Mike Freer: Poster daubed with ‘300,000 dead’ may be about UK Jewish population

A Conservative politician in one of Britain’s most Jewish constituencies whose election poster was defaced with the words “300,000 dead” has said it may be a reference to Jews.

Mike Freer, who has been the Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green since 2010, and who is defending his seat, alerted Jewish News to the shocking vandalism on Friday.

“One of my boards previously defaced was done again last night,” he said. “This time ‘300,000 dead’ was written on it. I’m not sure what it is referring to but my heart sank when I thought the person might be referring to the Jewish population in the UK.”

Freer added that he had escalated it to the local police commander “who is, as ever, treating it very seriously”.

Antisemitic graffiti daubed over Freer’s election campaign board in Golders Green on Monday, with what resembles a swastika and the words: “Boris out! Hail Boris”.

Freer said: “I was upset to see it… It just shows that the poison of antisemitism is never far from the surface and it makes me more committed than ever to stand alongside my constituents and face down the bigots.”

Jewish politician Luciana Berger is challenging Freer in the constituency. She is standing for the Liberal Democrats, having resigned from the Labour Party earlier this year, citing concerns over antisemitism.