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“Excuse me,” says a young mother . “Who’s coming?”

The Prime Minister, I say.

“Who else?”

Just the Prime Minister … I think.

She seems disappointed. “Not Ross Kemp?”

As far as I know it’s just the Prime Minister.

“Oh,” she says. “I’m not really interested then.”

A crowd is growing outside Asda, in Donnington Wood, including Labour Parliamentary hopefuls David Wright and Paul Kalinauckas, and Wrekin Conservative candidate Mark Pritchard, but inside it’s just another shopping day.

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Outside there are police officers and men with earpieces, but in the aisles you’d never know Gordon Brown was on his way.

The Prime Minister was making a punishing tour of the region, accompanied by his wife Sarah and – in some places – the versatile actor and documentary maker Ross Kemp.

And Mr Brown was on his best behaviour, too. Last week’s “bigotgate” incident, in which the Prime Minister found himself having to apologise to a life-long Labour supporter after his comments were leaked, has cost him at least one vote.

“That was just wrong,” says Kylie Bowering, of Newport, who voted Labour last time.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” she adds. “He could say it about us.”

Kylie’s friend Heather Smith has decided not to vote at all this time. “I just think that whatever they say, it’s not going to happen anyway.”
And she’s not the only voter who has decided not to support any of the parties on Thursday.

Hayley Tyrer, from Telford, doesn’t feel that she knows enough about the issues to choose any particular candidate.

“It’s probably the stupid thing to do, but there’s nothing else I feel I can do.”

Other voters know more about the issues. Take Paul Hughes, of Dawley, for example. “There’s a few things I’d like to say to him,” he says.

His main issue is council tax. “We pay £100 a month. It’s a struggle, and that’s with me working and my wife working.”

Phil Collins and his wife, from Newport, also won’t be voting for Mr Brown. It’s nothing personal, says Mrs Collins, but she thinks there should be a change.

A cheer from the front of the store announces the arrival of the Prime Minister. He is mobbed as he arrives, and is led through the store swiftly, shaking hands and greeting potential voters.

There are still some cynics though.

“If I were him I’d be buying the Smart Price food because he’ll be out on Friday,” says one man.

But not everyone is so sure. Kumram Azam, of Ironbridge, is a definite supporter. “I heard he was here and I thought I’d come,” he says.

“My dad’s a big supporter and I’ve got a big family.”

Mr Azam reckons his family could put 100 votes Mr Brown’s way.

“I wanted to tell him,” he says. “One hundred votes is one hundred votes.”

Still, as Mr Brown disappears into the warehouse to talk to staff, there’s one name on everyone’s lips.

“Hey,” says a voice nearby. “Has anyone seen Ross Kemp yet?”

By Andrew Owen