‘Mili-what? Who’s he?’

‘Are all of these questions about politics love — because I’m really not political?’ Oh dear. I’ve just lost another respondent two minutes into a three-minute survey and the chances of achieving my hourly target, and therefore continuing my employment in pre-election polling, are receding fast.

Perhaps she didn’t hear my scripted preamble: ‘Could you spare a few minutes to take part in a survey on the upcoming general election?’ What sort of questions did she think I’d ask? ‘Do you think SamCam pulled off the midi-skirt?’

At least I can take pleasure in hearing a colleague struggle a few booths down. ‘No, not electrics madam, election.’ And then, a minute or so later — ‘No madam, nothing to do with electricity. I am not trying to sell you anything. Yes, I’m sure you are very satisfied with your current provider.’

Moments like this provide a little light relief from the monotony of a nine-hour shift in the airless, prefabricated building nestled on an industrial estate in one of Britain’s less salubrious commuter towns.