OUR activists are working their socks off to ensure we retain control of the council, a senior Conservative MP has said.

James Cleverly, deputy chairman of the Tory party, paid a visit to Swindon to rally the troops ahead of the elections this Thursday.

Between door knocking sessions in Old Town in support of the party’s candidate Nick Burns-Howell, James said he was confident that the conservative message was reaching voters.

Asked why he had chosen to spend his afternoon in Swindon, he said: “We are sending a message to all the activists that wherever they are campaigning in the country, CCHQ are very keen to support them and to help make sure we keep delivering local services with low taxes.”

The issues he hears on the doorsteps, he said, are predominantly local concerns, such as the state of the roads and school provision.

Nick Burns-Howell, standing in the blue corner in Old Town this year, was thrilled to have been joined by the Braintree MP.

He said: “It’s great to have support, from the borough councillors to more senior MPs. It helps to raise awareness of the work we do throughout the year and on a day-to-day basis.

“I think it’s very important to get out and speak to residents about the issues that concern them and try to solve them – not just in the election period but all year round.”

Optimistic about his chances on Thursday, he said: “I have spoken to hundreds of residents over the past few weeks and there has been a really positive reaction.”

With predictions in the national press of Labour making enough gains to take the council to No Overall Control, James dismissed the suggestion the Tories were under the cosh and stressed that the party is “working hard everywhere” to keep control of councils.

“There is a lot of energy and enthusiasm and we are fighting hard. Elections are unbelievable unpredictable, but we are confident,” he said.