Leaders' wives in the spotlight

By Brian Wheeler
BBC News

They are always at their husband's side at the big political occasions, smiling supportively and saying the right things.

But this year's general election could see the party leaders' wives in the media spotlight like never before.

Michael Howard's ex-model wife Sandra, in particular, is likely to be much in evidence on the campaign trail.

Mrs Howard is seen by strategists as one of the Tories' best electoral assets, softening Mr Howard's public profile and adding a touch of glamour to mundane photo opportunities.

SANDRA HOWARD Age: 64 Job: Former fashion model Campaigning role: Travelling with Mr Howard and carrying out her own engagements Key quote: "Michael needs someone to tell him when he is going over the top. We enjoy arguing about politics - although he usually wins."

The story of how the couple met - with Mr Howard sending her a copy of F Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night - even hints at a romantic side to Mr Howard, belying his "something of the night" image.

Mrs Howard, 64, has been touring marginal seats since the start of the year to drum up support for female Tory candidates.

And she will be at Mr Howard's side as he tours the country by helicopter.

But she will also be carrying out her own engagements - something of a departure for a Conservative leaders' spouse.

She has confessed to feeling shy and nervous at public engagements, but that did not prevent her from last year becoming the first leaders' spouse to address the Tory party conference.

As 1960s and 1970s Vogue model Sandra Paul, she was a close friend of Frank Sinatra and famously dined with John F Kennedy the night before the Cuban missile crisis.

Mr Howard, whom she met 30 years ago, is her fourth husband. The couple have two children: Nicholas, 29, a trainee vicar, and Larissa, 27, an advertising executive living in Japan. Mr Howard also has a stepson, Sholto Douglas-Home, from Mrs Howard's first marriage.

First child

Charles Kennedy's wife Sarah Gurling is also expected to be in the media spotlight during the campaign.

SARAH GURLING Age: 34 Job: PR executive Campaigning role: No active campaigning - she is due to give birth to her first child in mid April Key quote: "I am here in a supportive role, but I do have a career."

She is due to give birth to the couple's first child in the second week of April.

At the Liberal Democrats' spring conference, Mr Kennedy paid tribute to Sarah, telling delegates the party owed her "a very, very great debt".

He said they were a private couple, but added: "On a personal level, with Sarah I have never been more happy, and on a professional basis I have never felt more personally fulfilled. Our opportunity is great."

It is not clear how much paternity leave Mr Kennedy will take, but he has said that his wife and child will be his priority. Deputy leader Sir Menzies Campbell will take over the leader's battle bus in his absence.

Ms Gurling is a PR executive for lottery operator Camelot.

She was active in Lib Dem politics as a student and was a campaigner for the party before the couple met in 2002.

She has said she is "interested" in becoming an MP at some stage.

Lower profile

Cherie Blair is the most high-profile of the leaders' wives and is expected to play her part in Mr Blair's re-election campaign.

CHERIE BLAIR Age: 50 Job: Human rights lawyer Campaigning role: Low profile but at Mr Blair's side at key events Key quote: "I think I am a better lawyer than he is and I know he's a better politician than me."

A Labour spokesman said she would be doing "exactly what she has done in the past".

That means being at Mr Blair's side at key campaigning events. She is expected to keep a lower profile than Sandra Howard but will be carrying out some solo engagements, such as visits to schools and hospitals.

Mrs Blair fought the no-hope seat of Thanet North for Labour in 1983 but put her own political ambitions on hold when Mr Blair won his Sedgefield seat in the same year.

She went on to become one of the country's leading human rights lawyers and recently completed lucrative speaking tours of Australia and the United States, as well as co-authoring a book on prime ministers' spouses.

But she has also been in the headlines for more controversial reasons, famously confessing she was "not superwoman" after she bought two flats with the help of convicted fraudster Peter Foster.

Mrs Blair gave birth to her fourth child, Leo, at the age of 45, and continues to juggle work and family commitments.