Cameron defends 'robust' exchanges

David Cameron has admitted he has not abandoned "Punch and Judy politics".

The Conservative leader said a "quieter tone" did not work during House of Commons exchanges with Gordon Brown.

Interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he was questioned over his decision to call Brown a "loser" at last week's prime minister's questions.

In his 2006 victory speech after winning the leadership of the party, Cameron said: "We need to change, and we will change, the way we behave.

"I'm fed up with the Punch and Judy politics of Westminster, the name calling, backbiting, point scoring, finger pointing."

But he told Today: "I will absolutely hold up my hand... and say you're quite right, this is a promise I have not been able to deliver - I 'fess up to you, if you like."

He said that when it was in the national interest, on issues such as schools and Trident, his party had worked with the government.

"I think that is the proper approach and that is ending an element of Punch and Judy politics but I do accept that at PMQs I do accept that I take a robust approach.

"It is robust. I don't make any apology for that."

Prime minister's questions was an "adversarial system", he said, adding: "I think the House of Commons is designed that, if you don't do that, you lose out."

He went on: "The quieter tone I'd hoped we might be able to have, the better discussion of politics at prime minister's questions, doesn't work.

"When it comes to the important decisions about how we vote on bills, how we behave about legislation, acting in the national interest, I think you can look at my leadership of the Conservative Party and say I really have delivered that - on Trident, on education, on school academies."

A ComRes poll for the Independent put the Tories up two points since last month to 40 per cent, while Labour fell five points to 26 per cent.