POLITICAL leaders have been covering the ground in the weeks leading up to tomorrow’s General Election in a bid to win over undecided voters.

And Essex has proved to be a crucial part in that, not least because the county has proved to be a Conservative stronghold in recent years.

At the moment, the county is a swathe of blue and the odds on that changing are generous. But that does not mean it is impossible.

First out of the blocks and into the county was Labour boss Jeremy Corbyn who launched his party’s campaign in Harlow alongside his candidate there, Laura McAlpine.

Mr Corbyn also made the short journey out of London to Thurrock last month for a canvassing session with Thurrock Labour councillors and a large number of activists.

He used a speech to talk on a number of issues, including the state of the economy, foodbanks, debt, education and Brexit.

Then came Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, whose visit to Chelmsford focused on the impact a no-deal Brexit would have on the UK’s agriculture sector.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson then made the trip up the A12 to Colchester last week to rally his troops, just as his candidate, Will Quince admitted he had a fight on his hands.

It speaks volumes that all three main party leaders have made concerted efforts to get to Essex to get their message across.

But will any of it have a tangible affect?

The easy answer is we will know when we wake up on Friday morning.

But, in the shorter term, the numbers tell their own story.

Two years ago, for example, Tory John Baron held Basildon and Billericay comfortably, with 61per cent of the vote.

Fellow Conservative Sir David Amess took Southend West with 55per cent of the vote. That said, Labour, with its then-candidate Julian Ware-Lane, who increased his share of the vote by a significant 15.7per cent, should not be discounted.

And new candidate Aston Line will be hoping to build on that so Sir David will know he has no room for complacency.

Likewise, while Tory James Duddridge did win 48per cent of the vote in Rochford and Southend East, his nearest challenger, Labour’s Ashley Dalton - running again this election - took 37per cent of the vote, but with an increase of 12.3per cent.

Broadly speaking, all that will need is a 5per cent swing in the vote for Mr Duddridge to have a real fight on his hands.

Mark Francois appears comfortable in Rayleigh and Wickford, having taken 66.7per cent of the 2017 vote. He did that with a 12per cent increase in the vote.

However Mark Daniels’ performance gave real cause for optimism, after he increased his share of the vote by 11per cent, to 24.3 per cent.

New candidate David Flack will be hoping at least to build on that.

In Castle Point, Rebecca Harris looks set to comfortably hold the seat, especially since the Brexit Party’s decision to stand down Michael Heaver given the seat was won by the Conservatives in 2017.

It will all become clear soon. Very soon, in fact.