Mike Freer ‘upset’ by antisemitic graffiti daubed over campaign board

Conservative candidate Mike Freer said he was “upset” by antisemitic graffiti daubed over an election campaign board in Golders Green.

Pictures taken by Jewish neighbourhood watch group Shomrim North West London show what resembles a swastika with the words “Boris out! Hail Boris” on a board promoting Freer outside a Jewish home in Golders Green.

Freer, who is standing in Finchley and Golders Green, told Jewish News on Monday: “I was upset to see it. It just shows that the poison of antisemitism is never far from the surface and makes more more committed than ever to stand alongside my constituents and face down the bigots.”

In a separate incident reported to police on Saturday evening, the words “Hail Boris” were found on a gate outside another Jewish family’s home in Golders Green together with what appears to be a swastika according to pictures taken by Shomrim North West London.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said it is investigating the second incident after receiving a report of antisemitic graffiti at the address.

Barnet Council dispatched a graffiti-removal crew to both locations on Monday afternoon. A spokesperson said: “There is no place in Barnet for racism or anti-Semitism of any kind. We will work closely with the police to clamp down on it wherever we find it. Thankfully instances like this are quite rare in our borough, where the vast majority of people live harmoniously side by side.”

A spokesperson for Shomrim North West London said: “It is incidents like these which bring the issue of antisemitism into sharp focus. This is the second incident reported to Shomrim in the last week of antisemitic graffiti daubed in Golders Green.

“Shomrim are committed to supporting victims of all hate crime. We urge any victims of antisemitism to come forward and we will support you in reporting these incidents to police, and provide you with the necessary support.”