Cameron dismisses Labour MP with Winner slogan

Prime minister sparks anger after using Michael Winner advertising slogan to shadow chief secretary at PMQs

Labour has asked David Cameron to apologise after he told the shadow chief secretary, Angela Eagle, to "calm down, dear" at prime minister's questions.

Cameron made his remarks as he faced pressure over hospital waiting times.

The prime minister repeated "calm down" several times until the Speaker, John Bercow, had to interrupt proceedings to quieten things down.

Labour's official spokesman branded his remarks as "sexist, insulting and patronising". The party called on Cameron to apologise, saying his comments had been, at the least, not prime ministerial and were arrogant.

A No 10 spokesman said Cameron's remarks had been intended to be light-hearted and were a reference to a Michael Winner advertisement, selling insurance, in which he says: "Calm down, dear".

Eagle had become agitated after Cameron attempted to read a quote from the former Labour MP Howard Stoate backing the government's NHS reforms.

He claimed Stoate had been defeated at the last election by a Conservative candidate when as Eagle was pointing out Stoate had in fact stood down.

His remarks caused uproar on the Labour front bench, which believes Cameron betrays an arrogance when under pressure.

At a previous prime minister's questions, he had attacked Ed Balls, describing him as the "most annoying MP at Westminster".


guardian.co.uk Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is sub! ject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds


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