Twitter hadn’t been invented. Online news coverage was virtually non-existent. There were several hustings every week in village halls. And Labour was the most popular party in the UK. Nick Clegg, incidentally, hadn’t even entered the European Parliament, let alone the Palace of Westminster.

Such was the political landscape the last time Christopher Gill contested a general election.

“I last stood in 1997,” he says. “And I was duly elected as the Conservative MP for Ludlow. At the end of that parliament, I stood down on a matter of principle and the seat fell to the Liberal Democrats.”

Christopher Gill is back. And, if the reaction in Bridgnorth High Street yesterday was anything to go by, the electorate is thrilled.

“I’ve been humbled by the response,” he said. “I genuinely hadn’t realised how many people knew me, nor, indeed, had I realised how appreciative people were for the years between 1987 and 2001, when I was in Parliament.”

Back in 1997, unemployment was falling, Gordon Brown was on his way to the Exchequer, interest rates were 7.25 per cent, public sector borrowing fell to £1.1bn – compared with the colossal sums now borrowed – while the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary and Cyprus wanted to become part of the EU.

“It seems everything’s changed,” says Mr Gill. “The political landscape, the world in which we live, even the way we conduct elections.”

Ah yes, elections. Mr Gill is dismissive of the televised debates between Labour, Liberal and Conservative leaders, saying they fudge real issues. He fears greater involvement with Europe and has been heartened by the response on the doorstep.

“I’ve met a lot of people who’ve told me, for various reasons, that they might find it difficult to vote for UKIP. However, those self same people have donated money to our fighting fund because they want us to do well.

“People seem to realise that we are the only ones willing to fight for individual freedom and national independence.

“I have been very heartened, and humbled, by the response on the doorstep. Things may have changed, but it’s great to be back.”