Andrew Feinstein at the canopy near Kentish Town underground station on Monday

SIR Keir Starmer battled out a TV duel with Rishi Sunak this week­ – but back in Kentish Town he was being challenged to a street debate with an independent candidate standing against him in Holborn and St Pancras.

Andrew Feinstein, standing on an anti-war and anti-austerity ticket, was one of the speakers at the Gaza Week Camden events being held at the canopy near the underground station every night this week.

He said Mr Starmer should debate the issue head to head with him.

“Every single taxpayer pound spent on weapons is a pound not spent on our crumbling schools, on reducing NHS waiting lists, on tackling the housing crisis, spiralling rents and the inability of hard-working families to pay the bills,” he said.

“Child poverty levels in Holborn and St Pancras are among the highest in London. Nearly 40 per cent of children in this constituency are living in poverty. That’s over 12,000 children. Yet Keir Starmer continually tells us he can’t commit to money for them – just money for more bombs and endless wars.”

Demonstrators with Israeli flags and calling for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 atrocities were at the canopy on Tuesday and Wednesday as more speeches were made.

It is understood some local Labour members felt organisers of the event had gone too far by using pictures of Mr Starmer with blood splattered over his face on posters around Camden.

Mr Starmer said during his ITV leaders’ debate that the release of the hostages had to be secured immediately and humanitarian aid needed to get to Gaza.

“What we need now is a ceasefire and a cessation of the hostilities straight away,” he said.

You can see a full list of all of the candidates in Holborn and St Pancras HERE