The Conservative candidate for London mayor Zac Goldsmith said he had “lots of delicious food” during a tour across north-west London with lobby-group Conservative Friends of Israel today.

Mr Goldsmith, who is hoping to succeed Boris Johnson at next month’s election, started the sunny Sunday morning in Edgware before heading to Golders Green.
He ended his trip at Jewish employment organisation Work Avenue in Finchley - before announcing that he would return to Hendon for a hustings later on this evening.

Accompanied by a bus and mini-van filled with 70 supporters, the majority of whom were Jewish, Mr Goldsmith sampled a smoked salmon bagel in Edgware’s kosher bakery Grodzinski, before picking up some rugelach from Carmelli’s in Golders Green. He went on to hand out a bowl of falafel and humous from kosher takeaway shop Pita, also in Golders Green.

In a bid to re-create the moment Mr Johnson bought some shoes from Jewish-owned factory outlet Golds, Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer urged aides to take the candidate to the same shop.

But with little time before the next stop, Mr Goldsmith, whose grandfather Frank was Jewish, was ushered out as quickly as he was hauled in - without any new shoes.

He also visited charity shops including Norwood and All Aboard.

Speaking at Work Avenue, Mr Goldsmith thanked supporters for their efforts and warned of the threat to Londoners if Labour rival Sadiq Khan was elected as the next Mayor of London. Mr Khan is currently leading the polls.

He hailed CFI as “such an extraordinary organisation,” adding: “I went to the annual CFI lunch a few months ago and I can honestly say, I have never been in a room in my life where there has been so much energy, so much dynamism, so much brilliance. I was dazzled by it.

“It’s a fighting force and we need it to be a fighting force."

Noting his plans to support police, deliver more homes and cleaner air for Londoners, he said: “We are so close to this election - 18 days away...

“Promises before the election are cheap… what matters is delivery. I will deliver by working with this government on which London depends. I will deliver it based on my track record as a working MP - having made promises six years ago and kept those promises.”

He added: “This election is going to come right down to the wire."