Alex Deane has been selected as the Conservative candidate for Finchley and Golders Green. A frequent ConservativeHome contributor, Deane replaces Mike Freer, who stood down due to anxieties about his family’s safety after the burning down of his constituency office. Electoral Calculus currently has the seat narrowly going to Labour, third behind the Liberal Democrats in 2019.
In a selection meeting described to ConservativeHome as “well-run” and “a positive experience”, Deane faced Caroline Clapper and Alex Prager. The former has been a councillor in Hertfordshire since 2009, whilst the latter is a former Chair of the Hendon Conservative Association who has served as a councillor in Barnet since 2018. Both were “more local” to Finchley than Deane.
As such, his selection breaks with the ‘local champion’ tendency often covered on this site. One source present at the selection told ConservativeHome that Deane did not “pretend to be super local” but “knew what he stood for” and gave “straight answers”. He won on the first ballot, with one reason given being that “being a Thatcherite is no bad thing in her old seat”.
Deane told ConservativeHome that he intended his campaign to be a “model of civility” having been “appalled” at Freer’s experiences. He made clear that although he “proudly disagrees with [his] opponent” he knows she is a “good human being” and looks forward to the election. He is as a “profound conservative” who believe in a small state and Israel’s right to defend itself.
The new candidate has worked as Head of UK Public Affairs at FTI Consulting since 2014, worked as chief of staff for both David Cameron and Tim Collins in opposition, and has written the ‘Lessons from History’ series of books. Freer suggested he was “delighted” at Deane’s selection and suggested he would be an “outstanding representative” for the constituency.
ConservativeHome wishes Deane all the best at the election. As ever, please contact me at william@conservativehome.com with any information about candidates and selections you may have.