On Tuesday night, Tory MPs were told to join a “dawn raid” in Old Bexley and Sidcup in a last-ditch effort to protect their party’s majority.

Mark Spencer, the chief whip, emailed MPs to ask them to go to the constituency ahead of Thursday’s vote as part of the party’s “get out the vote operation”.

He called for “as many hands as possible” to join the campaign.

 Louie French, the Conservative candidate, is widely expected to be elected with a reduced majority, compared with the 19,000-vote lead of his predecessor James Brokenshire over Labour.

On Wednesday, Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, and Dr Liam Fox, a former minister, visited the seat to support Mr French.

“Speaking to local residents, it’s clear they want an MP who will deliver on their priorities,” Mr Zahawi said.

No love for Labour

Two senior Conservative sources told The Telegraph on Wednesday that they expected the party’s majority to be shrunk because apathetic Tory voters will decide not to vote.

“There is no love for Labour … we have seen no switchers to Labour at all,” one source said.

“People are still strongly Conservative. It’s whether they come out and vote, I would say.”

Another source added that the Government’s handling of inflation was controversial with voters in the seat.

“I think most people are worried about the cost of living and energy prices, which are obviously a worry as we go into colder weather,” said the source.

Oliver Dowden, the Tory chairman, added: “Louie has fought a positive campaign focused on delivering for the area he has called home all of his life.

“He’ll build on the great work of our late colleague James Brokenshire by working with the Government to get more police on the streets and more investment for the local hospital, while standing up to Labour mayor Sadiq Khan as he plans to hammer drivers again with a new Outer London tax.”