Tomorrow’s by-election will elect a replacement for Labour councillor Liron Velleman who resigned in mysterious circumstances last month reports David Floyd

The entrance to Totteridge and Whetstone tube station — Totteridge and Whetstone Station

Barnet Labour politicians have called for step-free access at Totteridge and Whetstone Station in the run-up to tomorrow’s Whetstone by-election as their Conservative opponents draw attention to the unexplained departure of the previous incumbent.

Local leaders including council leader Barry Rawlings, Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson and London Assembly member Anne Clarke have written to Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan calling for the station to be prioritised in Transport for London’s review of stations which will be considered for access upgrades.

The letter states: “Each year, 2 million journeys start or end at this station. This part of Barnet has an older population and there are many residents with access needs who would benefit greatly from step=fee access at this location.”

It adds: “Our petition in favour of step-free access has gathered 500 signatures and counting.”

Tomorrow’s vote was called following the resignation of Labour councillor Liron Velleman who left the Labour group, the council and his job at trade union Community in the space of two days at the beginning of April. None of the organisations concerned provided any comment beyond confirming that Velleman was no longer connected to them.

Commenting on the step-free access campaign, Labour candidate for Whetstone Ezra Cohen said: “Sadiq has increased the proportion of tube stations from one quarter to one third, and plans to make it a half by 2030. Its time Totteridge and Whetstone – that serves such a large area and that many of our residents rely on – is added to the list.”

However Conservative candidate Tom Smith, who is bidding to return to the council tomorrow following defeat in 2022, was unimpressed by Labour’s campaign. He told Barnet Post: “Barnet Labour suddenly pretending to care about Whetstone, or its tube station, is nothing more than a smokescreen. The real issue is the one they’re desperate to avoid: why did their former councillor, Liron Velleman, abruptly resign and trigger this by-election?

He added: “Until they stop dodging that question, they have no credibility. Whetstone residents will not fall for this distraction tactic and Labour should stop taking them for fools.”

Velleman was elected for the first time in Whetstone ward as part of Labour’s victory in the 2022 elections. Although the ward was regarded as being new due to boundary changes, Velleman and his Labour colleague Ella Rose’s defeated opponents, Smith and Sachin Rajput, were Conservative councillors elected under previous boundaries.

Eight candidates in total have been nominated to stand in the election. In addition to Cohen and Smith, the others are Luigi Bille (Liberal Democrat), Richard Hewison (Rejoin EU), Martin Hudson (Independent Trade Union and Socialist), Brian Ingram (Independent), Adrian Kitching (Reform UK) and Charli Thompson (Green).

For more information on the election and how to register to vote, visit the council website at https://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/election-be-held-whetstone-ward-thursday-15th-may

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