Conservative Chief Whip Michael Gove said he was confident his party would hold onto “every single” London seat during a visit to Edgware.

Mr Gove visited the area to take part in an hour-long question and answer session at the Adath Yisroel Synagogue, in Hale Lane with Hendon candidate Matthew Offord.

Questions were put to the former education secretary on defence spending, immigration, education and more.

One audience member asked whether a future Tory government could guarantee ritual slaughter and circumcision would be protected from threats carried out under “the guise of human rights and animal welfare”.

Mr Gove said: “There is no chance the Conservative party will in any way make it possible to ban or restrict current appropriate ritual slaughter. Absolutely no way we are going to give in to animal rights militants.”

Pressed on whether circumstances might change if David Cameron fails to be re-elected as Prime Minister, he said: “I cannot imagine any leader of the Conservative Party from any of the people I know who are potential candidates giving in on this.”

On the Conservatives’ pledge at the last election to bring down net migration, he attributed part of the failure to the success of the UK economy, which had drawn many migrants from within the EU.

He added: “I don’t want this country to move back economically. But we also do need to take some steps to limit migration from the EU. We are only going to be in a position to take these steps with a majority government.”

On the issue of anti-Zionism on university campuses, he said institutions had an obligation to police guest speakers, and that it was “wrong” to give a platform to Islamist speakers.

Speaking afterwards, the Chief Whip was asked why – given all that he had said the Conservatives had done for the Jewish community – they were not doing better in Hendon, the second biggest Jewish constituency.

Mr Gove said the Government’s record “speaks for itself”, and that people would start to focus more on the election after Easter Monday and Passover.

He added: “The particular leadership shown will result in us doing better in north west London.”

Asked about opinion polls which showed Labour was set to gain Hendon, he said: “I always take polls which are regional and local with a pinch of salt. The sample size means they can be more erratic.”

He added: “I expect every single Tory MP to be re-elected.”