THE Prime Minister’s mother-in-law joined the campaign trail in Wyke Regis yesterday.

Pauline Macauley and her husband Patrick have lived near Bridport for more than 30 years and joined South Dorset Labour parliamentary candidate Jim Knight on the campaign traIl for re-election yesterday.

The Labour group was campaigning outside the Wyke Regis Infants School on Portland Road.

They handed out fliers and chatted to parents and children.

Mrs Macaulay said she had decided to join the campaign trail in the last week. She said: “People tell me how much Jim has done for the constituency and how committed he is to the people.”

She had been spending time talking to people at the school gates and was urging people to use their votes.

She added: “Votes are very precious and you should use your vote.”

She said she was tremendously proud of her daughter and her son-in-law Gordon.

She said: “You will probably say I would say this, but I’m proud of Sarah and Gordon and the wonderful team they make together.”

In a glimpse into the life behind the politics, she said: “It’s a busy life and there’s never a dull moment. I’m full of admiration for the work they do and how they juggle their work and children, family and friends.”

Mrs Macaulay said they enjoyed looking after the grandchildren and that it kept them extremely busy.

She said: “It’s a sheer joy to get our hands on them and we really enjoy our time with them.”

Gordon and Sarah Brown have two children, John and James Fraser, who are three years old and six years old respectively.

She said: “We just lead a normal family life as much as possible for the children. Life goes on, sharing precious moments and spending time together. There’s a lot of laughter.”

Mrs Macaulay said that it was ‘very safe to say’ that the Prime Minister smiles and laughs a lot more than his public perception.

She said: “He has a good sense of humour.”

She said they the family would be taking a holiday and some time out after the election on May 6.

“We will wait and see and continue to take each day at a time, but we are highly optimistic.”

Parent Hayley Crab, 36, of Wyke Regis, who has children at the school, met Mrs Macauley and said: “She seem like a very pleasant lady and a genuine person.”