It seems unlikely that Labour could even have a chance in an area of small market towns and rural villages not

It seems unlikely that Labour could even have a chance in an area of small market towns and rural villages, not to mention four grant-maintained and two grammar schools.But perhaps Mrs Shewring is typical of a horde of Tories who are changing their allegiance. Peter Bradley, the Labour candidate, is so enthused by the reaction he gets that he sails close to breaking Tony Blair’s injunction against complacency “The reception I have had has been fantastic. Of course, we were campaigning at 100mph less than five minutes after John Major left Buckingham Palace to call the election.”This does not seem to worry Peter Bruinvels, the Conservative candidate and former MP for Leicester East, whose campaign only recently got into gear after his formal adoption on Monday – although he has been the prospective candidate since last year. Like Mr Bradley, a Westminster Labour councillor, he is an outsider to the area, a part-time Ofsted inspector since losing his job in 1992. During his time in Parliament in the early Eighties, he was well known as a maverick right-winger, who once volunteered to be a public hangman.He said: “The Wrekin is not a marginal seat, it is a safe seat. This constituency fits me like a glove and it is a very long shot for Labour.”Jeff Parkinson, a butcher who has lived in the constituency for 35 years, has voted for the Tories all his life and intends to stick with them. “There have been times when I have moaned at the government – but it’s not enough to make me change my mind At least you know where you are with the Conservative party.

I would rather go with the devil I know than the devil I don’t.”But if Mr Bradley’s doorstep campaign continues at 100mph, Mr Bruinvels may find his glove a tight fit on 1 May.. Some members of the Independent’s focus group of disaffected Tory voters, set up in Redditch last autumn, have already decided to switch to Labour; none has switched to the Liberal Democrats, who are expected to come third in the new seat, created by boundary changes. The first signs appeared yesterday that Tony Blair’s apparent willingness to shift ground under criticism has undermined a little of this support, suggesting such backing may be quite “soft”.
Steven Marriott, 28, an engineer, was going to switch to new Labour but will now probably vote for John Major. “I thought that [Tony Blair] had a list of 10 things he was going to do but at the moment he is just bickering with John Major As soon as Major says something, Blair backs down. I think he’s panicking and he has disappointed me.”Another switcher, Mark Redfern, 29, also an engineer, will still vote for Labour but is disappointed that Mr Blair is not having a television debate with the Prime Minister “He has let me down a bit on that.

It would have proved he was the right man for the job.” But he takes a practical view of a Labour win. “If they cock it up we will vote them out next time.”Mr Redfern said he had watched the debate between the three prospective chancellors and had not been impressed by new Labour’s arguments. He added: “I did not think that Gordon Brown had that much to say. To be honest I thought the Liberal Democrats – Malcolm Bruce – made more sense But then I suppose they do not have that much to lose. So they can say what they want.”Local government worker Craig Coates, 37, will back new Labour “reluctantly” – citing health as a key issue, a recurring theme in The Independent’s focus group. “Tony Blair is the best man for the job and the best Labour leader in my lifetime.

But I’m not quite sure about the rest of them – they are keeping quiet at the moment.”Roger Frost, a former British Gas travel manager, and another switcher, believes Mr Blair has been “excellent” during the first part of the campaign. He welcomes the Tory support for small businesses but says it is belated, and believes any Labour problems over devolution will not matter in towns like Redditch.”We had a saying at work, ‘Let’s look at the wider issues – how will it affect me?’ People vote for what’s best for them. It’s also about celebrities and Tony Blair is the man of the time.”Another likely Labour voter, warehouse operative Adrian Blick, 30, in common with many in the focus group, is wary about pledges by Labour and the Tories not to put up taxes. “Whoever gets in will have a hard time,” he said.Mr Blick said he believed a number of people would switch towards the Conservatives by the end of the election.He said: “I think it’s going to be very close at the end. I think Labour will just do it but it will not be a run away. There is nothing in Labour’s manifesto which is going to attract lots of votes.”Susan Lovett, a former sales consultant, says what she regards as Mr Blair’s evasions have confirmed her decision to stick with the Tories.