Tories unveil secret weapon ... Mrs Howard
Sandra Howard is to play a central role in the Conservatives' general election campaign, it emerged today.
The party's planners have devised a separate schedule for the Tory leader's wife, during which she will visit candidates fighting marginal seats.
Strategists believe the former model plays well with voters. They say her presence on the campaign trail will help "soften" Mr Howard's austere image.
Party co-chairman Liam Fox said Mrs Howard had already undertaken a number of campaign events. "She will continue to do that. It's worked very well.
"It's envisaged she will visit target seats and give support to target candidates," he said.
Dr Fox added there were no plans for the Howards' two adult children to take part in the campaign.
Unveiling details, Dr Fox said the party had decided to dispense with the traditional "battle bus". Instead Mr Howard will hold daily press conferences in London before making campaign visits by helicopter.
The key theme of the campaign would be " accessibility and accountability", said Dr
Fox. It is planned that Mr Howard will meet as many voters as possible.
"Unlike Labour, who will be keeping the Prime Minister from the London media, Michael Howard will be hiding away from neither (the press or public) . Our aim is maximum access to Michael, not to restrict it," said Dr Fox.
The Conservatives denied they were aping Tony Blair's so-called "masochism strategy", which has seen the Labour leader subject himself to questions from disaffected voters. Dr Fox said there was a difference between a Prime Minister forced to defend his unpopular record and a leader of the Opposition presenting attractive policy ideas.
"We want to make accountability and accessibility part of the campaign because it will be part of the theme of our government. We are not afraid to open up our policy ideas to scrutiny," he said.
Cherie Blair regularly hits the campaign trail with her husband and in 2001 appeared in marginal seats alongside the Prime Minister.
