ELECTION EXCLUSIVE: Samantha Cameron On Her Five Years In Number 10

For the last five years, Samantha Cameron has been juggling a career as creative consultant to luxury goods company Smythson with bringing up three children – and being married to the Prime Minister. Here, she tells us what really happens behind the famous Downing Street door.

What have been the highlights of your five years in Number 10?

There are so many things, but the most memorable was bringing home Florence [now four] after her birth on holiday in Cornwall. Watching her grow up in Number 10 has been lovely. She scurries around the place chasing Larry the cat and stealing biscuits.

Any near-disasters behind the scenes?

On a few occasions the kids have been running riot at Downing Street receptions and have almost knocked over priceless Government art. There was also the time when the candles on Elwen’s [now nine] birthday cake set off the fire alarm and caused a lockdown of the entire building. And I will never forget when Florence made a grab for a brooch the Queen was wearing. David and I were holding our breath!

What’s been hardest to get used to?

Little things, like you don’t have a front door key – although I still root around in my handbag out of habit! Another strange thing is that, for security reasons, David has not been allowed to drive since becoming PM.

How’s your relationship with Miriam González Durántez and Justine Miliband?

I don’t know either very well, but we always have a nice catch-up at the events we attend together. They are very impressive women.

What’s the thing you’re most proud of David for achieving in politics?

I’m so proud of my husband. The brave and not always popular decisions he has had to take to get the economy back on track stand out.

Does anything you do in public life still make you nervous?

Yes! I will always find the pictures on the doorstep with David nerve-racking. I am convinced I will trip over or that the door won’t open when we turn to get back inside.

How does it make you feel when people call you David’s ‘secret weapon’?

It’s flattering but I’m not sure it’s true. I am always terrified that I am one step away from putting my foot in it.

What was the last thing you and David argued about?

We don’t argue too much. Our arguments are normally logistics driven. Very often, I have given him a set of instructions that he has pretended to listen to and then ignores.

And his most annoying habit?

Channel hopping and not picking up his clothes.

Has being in Downing Street changed your relationship as a couple?

I was worried about how life would alter when he became PM. Would we see him? Would the stress change him? But he still manages to be a great husband and dad. Of course, there are times when everybody wants a piece of him, but if anything we see more of each other as he an always pop upstairs, even if it’s busy. To be honest, when you have gone through the loss of a child [Ivan, their eldest child, had cerebal palsy and died aged six in 2009], anything the job throws at you pales into insignificance.

How has the responsibility of being in office changed David?

He does feel an enormous weight of responsibility. I couldn’t do it. He has an incredibly optimistic, glass half-full approach to life and I think that has got him through some very difficult times in this job.

Your two older children will become teenagers during the next parliament. How do you plan to protect them?

We have tried to keep their lives as normal as possible. They go to the same schools as they were always going to go to – they have the same friends. But we do instil into the kids that the position they are in is an incredibly privileged one – being able to wander into a Downing Street charity reception in your pyjamas and meet David Tennant is not normal. They seem to take it all in their stride.

Would you call yourself a feminist?

If it’s believing in total equality between men and women and that being a woman should never hold you back – then yes, I am a feminist.

How does David support your career?

He has always been very supportive; we have a very equal relationship. We are a good team with lots of respect as well as love. It felt right five years ago to work part-time, but I am looking forward to going back more full-time in the future. And you have to be realistic: for the time that he is PM, his job being responsible for the country has to take priority.

Your mother started her own successful business; is it true you’d ultimately like to start your own fashion label?

My mother instilled in me an entrepreneurial work ethic. She started her own [jewellery] business at 17 [and now runs a luxury furniture company] and had five children by the time she was 30. It might be exciting to follow in her footsteps but, for now, my priorities are the election and settling Nancy [11] into

her new school in September.

Do you think we’ll see another female Prime Minister in your lifetime?

I do. I think there are some great female MPs on both sides of the House. I have loved that this election campaign has featured so many female party leaders.

Why should readers vote Conservative?

The Conservatives have proved they are the party of employment, as they have created more jobs than the rest of the EU put together. I believe that you should be rewarded for doing the right thing but there should also be a net through which no one should fall.

What’s the best advice you would give to any future Downing Street spouse?

Be yourself and try to make life remain normal.

Regardless of the result, what’s the first thing you are going to do when the campaign’s over?

Have a big glass of wine and then sleep.