David Cameron's wife had a "huge influence" on his decision to soften the Government's hard-line approach on the Syrian refugee crisis and take in "thousands more", it has been reported.
Samantha Cameron is an Ambassador for Save the Children and has visited Syrian refugee camps in neighbouring Lebanon, where many of the four million people who have fled their country are temporarily located.
According to Tim Montgomerie, a prominent Conservative commentator and close ally of Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, she played a significant role in her husband's change of heart.
Am told that Samantha Cameron was huge influence on shift in the government's refugee policy http://t.co/HdjVwn1E5J
— Tim Montgomerie ن (@montie) September 4, 2015
Mr Cameron refused to be drawn on the claim when he was asked about it during a press conference in Madrid today.
This morning Mr Cameron finally bowed to a public outcry for Britain to open its doors to some of the four million Syrians who have fled their war-torn country. The UK has so far offered sanctuary to just 216 Syrian refugees under its relocation scheme, compared to 35,000 accepted by Germany.
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The climb down came after more than 250,000 people and politicians from all parties backed The Independent's campaign calling on Britain to take its fair share of refugees.
However the Government has yet to confirm exactly how many refugees it will take in and many questions remain unanswered over the Government's plan of action.
The UN refugee agency claimed Britain was set to accept 4,000, although Downing Street has refused to confirm the number or whether a figure has even been decided.
