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Tight Security For Sarah Brown
- 23 October 2008
- Gordon Brown's wife joined the campaign trail in the crucial Glenrothes by-election amid a tight protective shield thrown up by Downing Street.
Sarah Brown knocked on doors in Cardenden, a village that used to lie within the boundaries of the Prime Minister's own constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in Fife and a traditional Labour stronghold.
Labour strategists hopes that she will be their 'secret weapon' in the campaign but Mr Brown's unease at offering up his wife to the national and world media were reflected in the protocol surrounding the visit.
Mrs Brown spent more than a quarter of an hour speaking to voters in a secret campaign stop, then a further 15 minutes on the stump in front of television cameras.
Fears that it would turn into a press scrum meant the number of journalists told where she was appearing was restricted and none were allowed to approach or interview her.
Wrapped up against the cold in black boots, a denim skirt and a grey fleece-style jacket, she knocked on six doors, most of which had Labour posters in the window.
She was joined by Iain Gray, Labour's leader at the Scottish Parliament, and Lindsay Roy, Labour's candidate and the headteacher of Mr Brown's former school.
In a statement issued prior her walkabout, Mrs Brown said: "It's great for me to go round the streets with Lindsay today as he listens to the issues people are raising.
"We're at home for half-term, and I thought it would be nice to spend some time helping out the campaign this week."
Catherine McNulty, 77 said Mrs Brown had told her there was had been a swing back towards Labour in the seat.
She said: "I've met her husband and it was nice to meet Sarah. She is a nice person and they are a nice couple."
Mrs Brown finished her day of campaigning by holding private meetings with groups of pensioners and young mothers.
She kept a low profile until last month's Labour conference when she bolstered her husband's fightback campaign by introducing his keynote speech.
The positive press and public reaction that followed her appearance meant aides were keen for the public relations executive to take on a more active role, starting with the by-election.
Labour is defending a majority of 10,664 in the constituency, which was made vacant by the death of MP John MacDougall, but is facing a strong challenge from the Scottish National Party.
However, Labour is increasingly confident of winning the November 6 contest following the acclaim that has met Mr Brown's handling of the financial crisis.
David Cameron, the Tory leader, is scheduled to campaign in the constituency today but the by-election looks set to be a straight fight between Labour and the SNP.
Alex Salmond, the SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, also campaigned in the constituency on Wednesday and said his party remained confident of repeating its stunning win in the recent Glasgow East by-election.
He welcomed Mrs Brown to the constituency but said that he would rather see the Prime Minister appear, repeating his challenge to Mr Brown for a "toe-to-toe" public debate.
Speaking on a visit to the Kingdom shopping centre in Glenrothes, Mr Salmond added that the main issue for voters was soaring energy bills "thudding" onto their doorsteps this winter.
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