The Liberal Democrats' candidate for Hendon says his party brought “heart and soul” to the Government.

Alasdair Hill, a 29-year-old biology teacher at a Haringey school, will contest the Hendon seat for the party in May.

Mr Hill, who lives in Dawes Lane, Mill Hill, admitted the challenge would be “tricky” in the marginal seat, which is hotly-contested between Labour and the Conservatives.

Despite the difficulties facing the party, he said there had never been a more important time for a Liberal voice in government, and that he would campaign on child care and protecting the school budget.

He said: “As a teacher, I think it’s the most important part of our society, and it needs to be protected. It’s the central point of improving social mobility. As a young father, financial strains also need to be addressed."

He added: “We have brought the heart and soul to the coalition and hopefully we will be rewarded.”

Mr Hill, who stood in Mill Hill in the council elections last year and has been heavily involved in the Save Barnet Libraries campaign, said local issues would have a “huge impact” on the election results.

He criticised the decision by Barnet Borough Council to cut council tax by one per cent last year, and added: “People in Hendon are tuned in with what’s happening locally. Ultimately every council has had to face funding commitments, but not all councils are cutting services like the libraries at such a drastic rate.”

Speaking about whether he feared his party would lose votes to the Green Party, he said: “The Greens promise the earth in return for our basic economic and personal freedoms. As the media spotlight turns to them, it will show how ineffective it is.”

Mr Hill, who joined the Lib Dems three years ago, refused to be drawn into whether he would support a coalition with Labour.

“The decision is really up to the electorate how they want their government to be run”, he added.

Hendon is currently represented by Conservative MP Matthew Offord, who holds a majority of 106.

The other candidates who will contest the seat on May 7 are Andrew Dismore for Labour, Ben Samuel for the Green Party and Jeremy Zeid for UKIP.

For an overview of Barnet’s three parliamentary seats, click here.