David Cameron: 'Blair? We're Not Friends'

David Cameron has said he would not describe Tony Blair as a friend, following a 20-minute discussion with the former Prime Minister.

After the meeting during his two-day visit to Israel, Mr Cameron told Sky News: "I wouldn't say it is about friendship.

"We were very vigorous opponents. I remember facing him across the Despatch Box every Wednesday at Prime Minister's Questions.

"We come from different political parties, different political traditions and there are many things we disagreed about, but we both want a two-state solution and he has got a contribution to help bring that about by helping generate Palestinian economic growth.

"I obviously listen to Tony Blair's advice, as I listen to many people's advice."

Mr Blair, the Middle East envoy for The Quartet of the UN, US, EU and Russia, and Mr Cameron discussed the pursuit of the two-state solution for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

He said Britain was in a rare position of being relatively trust by both the Israelis and the Palestinians and that a political solution could only come with economic improvement in Palestine.

Mr Blair said: "I think we have got the right idea on relationships between a political negotiation to resolve all the difficult issues about borders and security and Jerusalem and so on, and the economic side, which is absolutely vital because if we don't build the Palestinian economy up at the same time as you are pursuing the political negotiation then a state for the Palestinians seems a dream and not a reality.

"So this is why the business side, the trade side is absolutely vital."