Samantha Cameron to speak twice a week on election trail

Samantha Cameron will make up to eight public appearances on the election trail, it emerged today.

The wife of the Tory leader will step into the limelight twice a week around the country, pitching her onto the frontline of the Conservative campaign.

Mrs Cameron, 38, will hit the campaign both at her husband's side and on her own. Her tour will focus on social action campaigns, where groups of volunteers improve their communities in the style of TV's Ground Force.

Details of her upgraded role emerged after David Cameron used a TV interview to announce that his wife of 14 years would be rivalling Sarah Brown at the hustings: "You're going to see a lot more of her. Britain get ready."

A designer and creative director at stationers and leather goods firm Smythson, Mrs Cameron has avoided the limelight until now. She took time off work to campaign with her husband when he first fought a parliamentary seat unsuccessfully in 1997, but unlike Mrs Brown she does not make speeches.

Her first major outing will be on Sunday night when clips of a prerecorded interview are shown on an ITV documentary about the Tory leader.

Asked about their marriage, she tells Sir Trevor McDonald: "I can honestly say I don't think in all that time he has ever let me down."

Mr Cameron said his wife told him only a few days ago that she wanted to do what she could to ensure he becomes Prime Minister. "She said, Tell me what I can do to help. I want to get out there'."

Mrs Cameron will still work at Smythson during the campaign and after it, even if the family move into No 10.