On Sunday, Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, told Times Radio that by-elections have “historically been used as a protest vote because people know it’s not going to change the outcome of which party governs the country, but actually they want to send a message for whatever reason”.

Meanwhile, Labour volunteers were reported to have taken holiday from their jobs this week in order to travel to the constituency and campaign.

Last week, two Conservative councillors in the North Shropshire constituency defected from the party to join Richard Tice’s Reform party and Laurence Fox’s Reclaim party respectively, both of which are standing in the by-election.

Asked whether the Conservatives would keep hold of the seat, the Prime Minister’s press secretary said that the party was “fighting for every vote”.

She confirmed there were no further plans for the Prime Minister to go to North Shropshire on polling day after he visited on December 3.