WHILE on a campaign trail with James Cleverly and the Conservatives, councillor Ron Ramage stops to take a selfie behind a sign for Ronald Road.

“I always say we have to enjoy ourselves because it’s a hard job, my shoes have nearly worn out,” he says as we walk the length of White Horse Avenue in Halstead.

This area has traditionally voted Labour but a lot has changed, people are wavering, and James is confident he can secure their vote.

While we, as James put it, were “getting a campaign sun tan”, we came across a resident who was uncertain of his position.

“I usually vote Conservative but I’m not too happy at the moment,” he said.

“We can never see a doctor down here, it’s an absolute disgrace.

“If people like me are thinking what I’m thinking, the Conservatives aren’t going to get the majority they want.”

As we pressed on in the heat, we spotted another resident who was making the most of the sun on her balcony.

“It’s the first time ever I have asked questions, it may be the first election where I have been eligible to vote where I choose not to. It may be the best way to use my vote,” she said.

“It’s a weird election,” James says as we continue down the street, securing a few Conservative votes along the way. One resident who really struck a chord with James was a blind and deaf man. He said none of the parties have improved his standard of living since he has been voting.

“But I understand politics is not a piece of cake,” he added courteously.

We stopped and thought for a moment, reflecting on his message.

“The thing that really sticks with you is meeting people with difficult personal circumstances,” James said.

“You can really make a change, but it’s more difficult to help that one individual.”

James Cleverly is standing for the Conservative Party in the Braintree constituency against Malcolm Fincken for Labour, Peter Turner for the Lib Dems, Thomas Pashby for the Green Party and Richard Bingley for UKIP in the General Election on June 8.