Hertsmere Labour has announced its candidate for the general election. She is Holly Kal-Weiss, a teacher, activist and campaigner who has lived in neighbouring Chipping Barnet for 28 years. She began her working life as a Children and Families social worker in Barnet, before becoming a teacher in specialising in Dyslexia.

After the voting, Holly said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing Labour team to represent the constituents of Hertsmere. I will work tirelessly to listen to and support the community, work to meet the needs of all residents and create a constituency which values all its people and the environment.”

Following Holly’s selection, Dr Dan Ozarow, Hertsmere Labour Chair said: “I am delighted to welcome Holly as our Parliamentary Candidate. We have all been incredibly impressed by the passion and commitment she has shown in campaigning alongside us on a range of issues that are affecting our local community. Everywhere I go, whenever I mention Holly’s name, people seem to love her. She is warm and personable, great at listening and has strong connections to our area. Holly is someone who is deeply moved by injustice and desperate to see a Labour government end the austerity that has plagued Britain for over a decade, so that we can create a society for the many not the few. She has so many qualities that would make her a fantastic MP for Hertsmere and one that local people deserve.”

The packed hustings heard from four candidates, including Matt Turmaine, a project manager and Watford Borough Councillor; Adam Scott, a Labour Party policy officer and East of England candidate in May’s European elections and Jagat Chatrath, a retired civil servant and former election candidate in St Albans.

A spokesperson for Hertsmere Labour said: “We had an incredibly strong shortlist of four high calibre candidates. There is serious interest in Hertsmere as a seat in which the Conservatives can no longer take votes for granted.”