Samantha Cameron 'turned David into a modernising liberal'

Samantha Cameron's decisive influence over her husband's conversion from traditional Tory to modernising liberal is revealed in a new biography of the Conservative leader serialised today.

The bohemian former art student, who once played pool with the rap star Tricky, helped introduce David Cameron to modern Britain, according to the book by two Independent on Sunday writers which first disclosed that Cameron had smoked cannabis at Eton.

On issues such as the notorious Section 28, which outlawed councils from "promoting" homosexuality, friends say Samantha was far ahead of her husband.

Nicholas Boles, a Tory activist who is gay, said: "I remember that Samantha 'got it' much more and got much angrier about things like that."

When Mr Cameron was working as a special adviser at the Home Office he had concerns about Michael Howard's crackdown on raves - not least because his then girlfriend was attending them. It also claims that Mrs Cameron's job in retail - she is creative director at Smythson, the upmarket stationers - helps keep her husband in touch with what voters want.

In extracts printed in today's Mail on Sunday, Andrew Feldman, Cam- eron's university friend who now oversees his fundraising operation, said: "Sam is a good barometer. She has a good sense of what's important and what's not, but also of what's important to other people. She may be from grand stock but she's tremendously grounded."

The Tory leader's wife is reported to be terrified that she will be compared to Cherie Blair, however. The book, Cameron, Rise of the New Conservative, quotes a friend saying: "Sam is keen not to be seen as another Cherie. It's true that she pushed Dave to become leader. But she only wanted it for him. She is not grasping in any way."

Francis Elliott and James Hanning, the authors, reveal for the first time details of the couple's secret engagement. He had wanted to marry her within a year of the start of their courtship in 1993, but she, at 22, had felt too young. On one early holiday in Italy they relate how the late television presenter Sir Robin Day sought to persuade Samantha, the daughter of landowner Sir Reginald Sheffield, to go skinny-dipping. "On the way back to Siena she turned to Cameron and asked: "Who was that dirty old man in the blue swimming trunks?"

In the first full portrait of the Tory leader's wife, the new biography reveals how Sam Cameron, worn out from lack of sleep, attended counselling around a year after the birth of their son, Ivan, who has a severe form of epilepsy. On being told that Ivan would never walk or talk, the book says the couple entered a "grim and difficult period". "One thing that they were determined about from the start was that they wouldn't fall apart," said a friend.

Dom Loehnis, another friend of the couple, told the authors: "They'll never get over it in one way and in another way it's the steel. It gives him the ability to say, 'It's a job', and to think there are more important things in life."

Sam Cameron, whose mother is married to Viscount Astor, has still not forgiven a former colleague of David Cameron's for an affair with her stepfather. Mr Cameron is reported to have said "some unconscionable things" to Rachel Whetstone, the partner of his close aide Steve Hilton, when news of the affair broke in August 2004.

Howard wanted Osborne, not Cameron, for Tory leader

Michael Howard wanted George Osborne, not David Cameron, to succeed him as Conservative leader, it was claimed last night.

Mr Howard switched his support to Mr Osborne after becoming irritated by Mr Cameron's "squeamishness" during the 2005 election campaign. The former leader was also annoyed that Mr Cameron didn't want the job of Shadow Chancellor, preferring the easier option of Education spokesman.

Mr Howard is quoted as saying: "I didn't offer David the Shadow Chancellorship because I was told he didn't want it. I was surprised."

The new Cameron biography claims Mr Howard decided to appoint Mr Osborne to the post, on condition he run for leadership. The revelations of the jockeying for position after the Tories' election defeat will gravely embarrass Mr Cameron, who is said to have "punched the air with delight" on learning that Mr Osborne had taken the job of shadowing Gordon Brown.

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