DRIVE through the Braintree and Witham constituencies near election time and you will see which way the wind blows politically.

Huge blue signs bearing the names Priti Patel and James Cleverly seem to adorn every other farmer’s field on the drive to the Earls Colne Business Park.

The centre, on the site of the former airfield and now home to the Essex Air Ambulance, is the latest stop on Braintree candidate Mr Cleverly’s tour of the constituency.

Andy Mayne, managing director of Millbank Floors, based at the park for 24 years, said, “I am in favour of people who promote business.

“We manufacture 3,000 tonnes of product a week so road issues are of paramount concern.”

Mr Cleverly is keen to stress his business credentials and has promised to focus on infrastructure issues such as A120 improvements if elected.

But he has also been busy targeting voters in the Hedinghams and villages in the north of the constituency.

To avoid accusations of complacency, the Londoner has not been house-hunting yet but has taken the opportunity to scout out areas to live in.

He said: “People are worried about housing, you get both sides of the argument.

“On one hand, you have got people who are worried because their kids can’t afford to live nearby. Others are worried because they don’t want houses built all over the countryside.”

Mr Cleverly said his canvassing experiences had been mostly positive.

He said: “We have had a couple of interesting exchanges. Most people have been wonderful, genuinely lovely–even the ones who made it very clear that they have no intention of voting for me.”

Mr Cleverly said he believes the party will confound political pundits and win an outright majority.

He said: “Every day that goes by I amabit more positive about it.

“A lot of people have been saying to me that they voted Ukip in the past but are recognising that the only real choice for prime minister is between David Cameron and Ed Miliband.”