Cameron heaps praise on wife Sam

Mr Cameron credited his wife with helping make his speech decision

David Cameron has acknowledged his wife Samantha's role in his decision to drop the autocue for his conference speech.

His hour-long speech, made without script or autocue, was credited with boosting Tory spirits at a time of high opinion poll ratings for Labour.

He said while Samantha Cameron was not "very political" the couple talked about big decisions, like the script.

"She was one of those saying: 'Why don't you think about it?," the Conservative leader told Red magazine.

Mr Cameron made his speech last September, amid growing speculation that Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had enjoyed a "bounce" in the opinion polls over the summer, was preparing to call a snap election.

Sam's a brilliant mother, a wonderful wife, a fantastic businesswoman and she juggle all those things in a way that I expect makes a lot of women in the country think: 'Good on you' David Cameron

He decided to do the speech without a script - something he had done in 2005, when he overtook his rivals to win the Conservative leadership contest.

He told the magazine his wife had been one of those behind the idea.

"Once I convinced myself it was a good idea, she was one of those who had to listen to my ideas. Poor thing," he said.

"I never did a whole run through, though, because halfway through she said: 'That's enough!' But I'm sure I was pretty unsufferable that week."

He praised his wife, who is a director at luxury goods brand Smythson, for juggling her career and looking after their three children.

"Sam's a brilliant mother, a wonderful wife, a fantastic businesswoman and she juggle all those things in a way that I expect makes a lot of women in the country think: 'Good on you'."

"I'm trying to do the same, but I'm not sure I can do it."

The Tory leader credited his wife with generating his interest in recycling.

And he told the women's magazine that while he preferred to wake up to his wife, it was more often the Today programme's John Humphreys, because Mrs Cameron often went to early morning yoga.

Mr Cameron's speech won him several days of positive newspaper coverage, and opinion polls after the conference suggested a narrowing of Labour's lead over the Conservatives.