The man who many say has ambitions to be Prime Minister arrived in a humble Ford Focus – the era of austerity has already begun.

Before mounting a serious challenge to be a future occupier of Number 10 – and a smart new chauffeur-driven Jaguar – he might want to work on his image.

As he slowly walked up the steps while snappers snapped away, a local Labour councillor turned to her friend inside and said: “Which one is Ed Balls?”