Tory leader William Hague has gone against his own party line, saying that he would be happy to see women in front line combat jobs in the military - a notion described as "political correctness gone mad" by his own shadow defence secretary.

Answering questions from "A level" students in London, Hague told a female student: "Lets hope that you, as an RAF recruit, will be able to serve in the front line if you want to."

Central Office tried to deflect the media by saying that Hague was simply reflecting the aspirations of one girl and any decision on women in the frontline had to be taken by the military.