Mike Freer

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Mike Freer (born 29 May 1960) is a British politician from the Conservative Party that is active in Barnet. Freer is leader of Barnet Council, which has an outright Conservative majority. He is also parliamentary spokesperson for Finchley and Golders Green, a seat in Barnet, which is the most marginal constituency in the country, with a notional majority, based on results in 2005 and the amended boundaries, of only 31 votes.^[1]

Freer represents Church End ward in central Finchley, having won the seat in 2001.^[2] He was first elected to Barnet Council in 1990 for the St. Paul's seat, winning the seat from Labour. However, he lost the seat again in 1994, in which the Conservatives were routed nationally.^[2] He became leader of the council on 11 May 2006, replacing Brian Salinger as Conservative group leader, having previously been Salinger's deputy.^[3] His appointment was approved unanimously.^[4]

In the 2005 general election, Freer contested the Harrow West constituency in the neighbouring borough of Harrow. He finished second to the Labour incumbent Gareth Thomas, whose majority was cut from 6,000 to 2,000. He was selected for Finchley and Golders Green on 10 December 2006.^[2]

Freer is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI). Although not a Jew, The Jewish Chronicle named Freer the 99th most influential person on the Jewish community for building links with the Jewish community, particularly through his membership of CFI and his chairmanship of the Barnet multi-faith forum.^[5] Professionally, Freer works for Barclays Bank as a relationship director.^[6]