Sir Robert Buckland finds himself in an unusual position during this election campaign.

The Conservative MP for Swindon South is, of course, working hard to try and retain the seat he won in 2010. And he has not lost hope of being part of a Tory party returned to government on July 5.

But, like everyone else, he is aware that the polls are not in his, or his party’s favour - and that even the party leadership is implicitly assuming a Labour victory when it asks Conservative voters to vote to prevent a Labour ‘supermajority’.

Sir Robert said: “We all know what the polls are saying, and I think it would be odder if we were running a campaign that didn’t acknowledge theme.

“But I do think the polls have too central a place. They’re useful, but there are so many they tend to determine the narrative, rather than a discussion of the issues. And that’s what I want to talk about.”

And ‘security’ is one of the overarching themes of the issues Mr Buckland wants to discuss.

He says: “This is one of the most unsettling moments in our history since the Cold War. We need to look at security, not just military security but energy security and food security.

“When it comes to food security, we have got very blasé about it. We need to be growing more of the food we eat here, and I’m very keen that we don’t give up any more agricultural land to things like solar panels.

“When I grew up, I remember my grandmother growing runner beans in the garden, and you’d have them in September and October and they’d be gone. I’m not suggesting we return to that, and anyway the polytunnel revolution means we can grow veg all year round, but we need to make sure that we keep agricultural land in food production.”

But that doesn’t mean he’s against solar power per se, and in fact, Sir Robert is keen to see the UK produce more of its own energy: “I’m a big supporter of solar energy, I supported the solar farm on Wroughton airfield - but we need to be more imaginative about where we put them.

“We produce nearly 50 per cent of our electricity through renewables   in the UK and increasing that will make our energy supply more secure.

“We’re seeing places like Russia using energy supply as part of policy, and despite whatever sanctions we use, they seem to be making more profit all the time.”

Sir Robert is also keen to see more investment in health: “The new A&E at GWH opens soon, and that will make a big difference, not more queuing ambulances because of lack of space.

“But we need to do more with community health and community care and joining up those services.

“Swindon town centre needs investment, building on the huge investment by the government through the Towns Fund and Future High Street fund. We’re seeing results in the Health Hydro, and Fleming Way. And I think people will be very pleasantly surprised by Fleming way when it’s finished.”

But, coming back to the likelihood of success- even if he holds the seat Sir Robert recognises it’s likely to be in opposition: “I’ve got experience of that, in a way as chairman of the Northern Ireland Select Committee. I was elected unopposed, including by Labour MPs and you have to engage with the opposition spokesman.

“And I came into politics to get things done. And I’ll work with anyone to get things done for Swindon.

“I’ve made much of my life in Swindon, It’s 20 years since I was first selected as a candidate. I’ve walked these streets and got to know the people and really got under the skin of Swindon.

“There’s a difference between marginal seats, which this one has always been, and safe seats. MPs for marginal seats have to really work in the constituency.

“Even when I was in cabinet, and making major decisions, I’d stop to make a phone call or draft an email about an issue here, whether it was drains or bins or something else,

“Swindon was, and is, always on my mind, and I want it to be so for a long time to come.”

Other candidates in Swindon South are Labour’s Heidi Alexander, Green candidate Rod Hebden, the Liberal Democrat Matt McCabe, Independent candidate Martin Costello  and Reform UK’s Catherine Kosidowski.