Tulip Siddiq and Sadiq Khan are urging Labour members to head to Hendon to support David Pinto-Duschinsky

THE stark reality of the UK’s electoral system was spelt out for all to see as Labour’s Tulip Siddiq launched her campaign for re-election in Hampstead and Highgate ­at an event in which members were urged to help out in Hendon.

Strategists want to make sure they have resources in Barnet as they believe they can win two seats from the Tories there at the July 4 general election.

Ms Siddiq was once tasked with defending a tiny 42-vote majority in Hampstead and at that time residents could expect an almost nightly visit from canvassers.

But the lie of the land has changed over nearly a decade that she has been an MP, during which she has racked up large leads – and now members in her patch are being asked to spend at least some of their time elsewhere.

Sadiq Khan was the special guest at the launch event in Swiss Cottage Library on Thursday and the New Journal asked him whether this approach meant victory was already all sewn up for Labour in Hampstead and Highgate.

“Tulip is the least complacent person I know,” he said. “She remembers she inherited a majority of 42 and she works incredibly hard. We’ve got to remember, though, if the choice is increasing the majority here or win in Hendon, winning Hendon is the prize.

“We’ve got to make sure we keep what we’ve got – no complacency – but also gain those seats that aren’t currently Labour. That’s why Tulip is working hard, not just in Hampstead and Highgate but also Hendon as well.

“What Tulip has done is work incredibly hard to cement her reputation here but she also has a front bench job working with Rachel Reeves. She’s been responsible for us changing policies.”

Ms Siddiq won a majority of 14,188 in 2019, although the Hampstead and Kilburn seat has morphed into Hampstead and Highgate, with Highgate village now part of the redrawn constituency.

Labour guns are squarely pointed at the two ­Barnet constituencies.

In Finchley and Golders Green, Labour’s campaign lost ground in its attempts to unseat the Conservative Mike Freer in 2019 when Luciana Berger, one of the party’s former Labour MPs, stood for the Liberal Democrats.

She has now returned to Labour and there is expected to be less of a split vote in opposition to the Conservatives.

Sarah Sackman is standing against new Conservative candidate Alex Deane in that constituency.

Labour is also desperate to win back the Hendon seat, surrendered to the Tories in 2010 by former MP Andrew Dismore.

The Conservatives have squeaked to victory on three occasions since then and the party want their canvassers invested in candidate David Pinto-Duschinsky’s battle with Conservative Ameet Jogia.

Mr Pinto-Duschinsky was another guest at Ms Siddiq’s launch event, as was her daughter Azalea, who was given the microphone to shout: Vote for my mum!

“The votes here aren’t votes that people are doing out of habit, they are votes that Tulip has earned,” said Mr Khan. “She’s the best ambassador for our party there is.”

Some party members in Camden have also been helping in the ‘Two Cities constituency in Westminster where there is another contest in which Labour is hoping to make a gain. Tim Barnes, the former parliamentary candidate for the Conservatives in Holborn and St Pancras, is standing in the Cities of London and Westminster constituency with the task of defending the seat previously held by Nickie Aiken.