It is very easy (and maybe tempting) to laugh Sarah Brown off-stage after her “my husband, my hero” monologue, writes today’s blogger and columnist Shirley Tart.Really serious and efficient politicians don’t need the little woman to pipe up for them like their own cheer-leader gang.

And the irritating thing here, is that they play the ‘keep the family private card’ until they need a bit of a human boost then the family will do.

So did the wife help or hinder the Prime Minister this week?Well it depends on where you stand.

It is very easy to dismiss it all as drivel, to request the sick bag and tell the PM to do his own pr work (Sarah was a PR person before wedlock by the way).

On the other hand, there is something rather nice about the partner of a beleagured or bothered public figure, powering in to paint the domestic picture of love, loyalty and – in this case – a fierce defence of a character which has been all but dismembered.All declarations (sincere ones, which I’m sure this was) of such faithfull support and affection are worthwhile.

Whether they are suited for a conference platform at a difficult time for the one being lauded, is another matter. It might appeal to the ‘aagh’ brigade and is a fine example of family fidelity and love.

But Sarah, dear, you telling us that Gordon is your hero, you are with him forever and so should we be, doesn’t really have a lot to do with how a government is running the country.

Gordon Brown took office on a pledge of non-celebrity, no-frills government and since then has done everything to prove the opposite.

The nice and loyal Sarah may have thrilled a Labour conference but it¹s actually up to Gordon to convince the country.

By Shirley Tart