General Election 2015: Labour of love in Tory stronghold

But this is not defeatism from Kevin McElduff.

If Mr McElduff wins, then David Cameron will not just be unable to get a majority, the Tories would be worse off even than they were when Tony Blair won his landslide victory in 1997.

Mr McElduff dismisses the slightly insulting term of 'paper candidate' and believes his job is to play the tactical game for Labour.

We are walking around an estate in Brinsford, just the other side of the fence behind which lies Featherstone and Oakwood prisons.

Mr Williamson won 26,834 votes in 2010.

Mr McElduff, who fought him last time as well, came second with 10,244.

So he certainly has no expectations of sitting on the green benches in Parliament. Even so, he's giving it his best shot.

"Our objective is to increase the Labour vote and in so doing get more Labour members on South Staffordshire Council," he says, sounding like shoving leaflets through doors is a bit like an opening salvo of a military campaign.

He has a point, of course. The district council election very rarely falls on the same day as a General Election, when turnout is typically far higher.

There are currently just two Labour councillors on the district council who cannot possibly provide a complete opposition to the ruling Conservatives.

This particular leaflet drop around East Road sees Mr McElduff accompanied by two 22-year-olds, Wolverhampton University student Jacob Fradgley and Winchester University graduate Adam Freeman, from Perton.

Both want to represent Labour on the district council in Cheslyn Hay North.

Also with them is John Brindle, an engineer who used to be on the council until he lost his seat in 2010 by 26 votes.

We have just been to the house of 100-year-old Jack Greenaway, who has supported Labour for 75 years and served on the county council and district councils as well as spending his career as a miner at Hilton Main Colliery.

Mr McElduff was representing Labour leader Ed Miliband in presenting a certificate to father of 12 Mr Greenaway in recognition of his service.

"He just needs to carry on and win," says Mr Greenaway.

"I haven't briefed him," says Mr McElduff, holding up his hands."

As for his own candidacy, he sees a silver lining even if his dream does not come true.

"If we keep the Tories busy in South Staffordshire then they stay out of the key marginal seats that surround us, the likes of Cannock Chase and Wolverhampton South West."

It's certainly true that these seats are the major battlegrounds that South Staffordshire will never be.

The Tory majority in Wolverhampton South West is a wafer thin 691.

In Cannock Chase it is in the thousands but there was a very big swing from Labour to the Conservatives in 2010 and every possibility that a significant chunk of those voters will swing back if they are persuaded Labour has learned its lessons.

Mr McElduff, a father of two, lives in Oaken near Codsall.

He is a member of The Firs, a 'private members' club that welcomes non members'.

It is only a few years since it was known as the Conservative Club and the building still houses the South Staffordshire Conservative Association.

"When it changed from a Conservative Club I applied. There were some people who didn't want me there. But I'm a member of the Campaign for Real Ale and as it's Camra listed they welcomed me with open arms."

He used to be on Sandwell Council, representing Wednesbury South from 1987 to 1991. As a teenager he helped fight the 1979 General Election and recalls being kept going with Tizer and Jaffa Cakes supplied by the formidable MP Betty Boothroyd who would go on to be the first woman Speaker of the Commons.

As chief executive of a business that support s manufacturing, he is, arguably, the sort of person the Tories should have been able to woo.

But he is also in what must be the rare position of being both a member of the Unite trade union and the Institute of Directors.

He may be realistic about his chances but the effort he and his colleagues are going to does not smack of defeat.

"We're trying to get out to different parts of the constituency each week.

"Most people, when they open the door, are polite. A lot have already made their minds up.

"I've only ever encountered about half a dozen who I'd say were rude.

"I expect to be devoting a lot of my time to this as we get towards May 7."

Does he think that UKIP will split the Tory vote and help him?

"Well they're essentially Tories," he says, trotting out the same line used by many in Labour. UKIP refutes that utterly.

"But that does mean the Tories are going to be competing for their own core vote. And that's no bad thing." Then he adds: "So my prediction is I'll win with a majority of 560." That's very specific. And a bit of a change of heart from a few minutes ago. "Well," he says. "I can have a dream can't I?"