Tory MPs join the outcry as Cameron jets off to Africa

Light relief: David Cameron shares a joke with South African President Jacob Zuma at a press conference in Pretoria today
12 April 2012

David Cameron was accused of a misjudgment today after he went ahead with a trade mission to Africa instead of staying to deal with the crisis in the police.

The Prime Minister found himself on the wrong side of the world to defend himself from criticisms in Sir Paul Stephenson's resignation statement over the appointment of Andy Coulson - and a hail of fire from Labour.

Alarmingly for Downing Street, Conservative backbenchers were among those angry over his latest decision. Mr Cameron cancelled an end-of-term address to the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, which would have taken place at 4pm today if he had not gone.

A Tory source told the Standard: "He is in the wrong place and the wrong time. It is an error of judgment. He should be in the right place, which is here."

Ed Miliband also criticised Mr Cameron, saying: "Tomorrow we will have some of the most important select committee hearings in modern times and the Prime Minister has decided to leave the country, not to return until after Parliament breaks up for summer."

In the event, Mr Cameron backed calls for a special sitting of Parliament on Wednesday so he will answer questions after all. His trip to Africa, already shortened from five days to three, may now be cut even more to allow him
to fly back tomorrow and sleep at home so he is refreshed for the debate.

The most toxic issue for Mr Cameron is Sir Paul's statement that he did not inform Downing Street about the hiring of Neil Wallis because of the PM's "close relationship" with Andy Coulson.
Mr Miliband called again for an apology for the appointment of Mr Coulson, the former News of the World editor, which he called a "catastrophic error of judgment".

It is the second time Mr Cameron has been criticised for leaving the UK during a crisis, the last being when he refused to cancel a trip to Rwanda during the flooding in England and Northern Ireland in 2007.

Mr Cameron was today going through photo opportunities in Pretoria. He visited the Super Sport and Tottenham Hotspur Academy in Pretoria, and spoke to Spurs players Michael Dawson and Bongali Khumalo.

At a press conference in Pretoria, he defended his decision to go, insisting that the trip could lead to jobs being created and other trade benefits.

"I think it is right for the British prime minister to be out there with British businesses trying to drum up exports and growth that will be good for both our countries," he said.

But Tory sources said several backbenchers had told 1922 Committee officers they wanted to question him about the euro-zone crisis as well as the hacking scandal. The meeting may be rescheduled for Wednesday.

Mr Cameron is due to be in Nigeria when Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks give evidence to parliament tomorrow.

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