They’re used to braving the elements, leafleting and door knocking in the depths of midwinter and encountering the uninterested, the unruly and even the odd bloodthirsty dog.

But from conversations I’ve been having with councillors and council candidates from both main parties over the past few days, all campaigning for next month’s local elections, the reaction they’ve received this time round has been of a quite different order.

The Tories, most of all, are in abject despair with many believing they are heading for the drubbing of their lives.

One, a local chairman from Essex, told me that his prime minister’s actions represent “an absolute betrayal of the British people”.

He told me: “Next month’s elections are going to be absolutely pivotal – we are going to get absolutely hammered.

“We are struggling to get anyone to deliver leaflets, even members of our executive don’t want to go out.”

This theme of Conservatives being unable to turn out their own members was commonplace across the country.

One exasperated Tory councillor told me: “Every association I’ve spoken to are struggling to get their members out.

“Members are saying, why should I get s*** on the doorstep and doors slammed in my face when I’m as angry as they are?”

Most are unequivocal: they blame Theresa May and want her to go. “It isn’t just six weeks of incompetence, it’s two and a half years.”

But this isn’t just a rejection of the Tory party and Theresa May, the backlash extends to Labour too.