PM Told To 'Stop Gloating' Over Election Win

Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman has told David Cameron to stop "gloating" and "show a bit more class".

The slapdown came after the Prime Minister taunted the opposition over its "mass conversion" to supporting the in/out vote on Britain's membership of the EU, following the party's election defeat in May.

But Mr Cameron hit back and said he was sorry she thought he was gloating and cited her comments that Labour supporters were relieved the party did not win the election.

The spat came as she pressed the Prime Minister in the Commons over the upcoming referendum.

Ms Harman opened her questioning by calling on the PM to explain why he did not want to let 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the public ballot.

She said: "This is about the future of our country, they did in the Scottish referendum, it's their future too."

In response, Mr Cameron said: "Can I thank you and all the Labour MPs who joined us in the division lobbies last night - after five years of opposing a referendum, to see them all trooping through was the biggest mass conversion since that Chinese general baptised his troops with the hosepipe."

He also said the Tories were against extending the franchise for the referendum but MPs would vote on the issue to decide.

But seizing on Mr Cameron's dig, Ms Harman said: "You won the election, you're the Prime Minister. You don't need to do ranting and sneering and gloating.

"You can just answer the question - and frankly you should show a bit more class."

She also pressed the PM over the Government's decision to allow the use of public funds to campaign to stay in the EU.

Ms Harman argued the poll "must be fair and be seen to be fair".

Mr Cameron is facing anger among his eurosceptic Conservative backbenchers over plans to scrap the 28-day purdah period running up to the public vote.

He told the Commons the referendum campaign should not impact on the Government's ability to engage with Europe such as EU summits and other issues involving Brussels.

The PM added: "The second issue I would raise - and I think this is a bigger issue - is when the negotiation is complete and the Government has a clear view, I don't want us to be neutral on this issue, I want us to speak clearly and frankly on this issue."

Mr Cameron also faced calls for the referendum to be held on a separate day to any other elections.

The PM said: "My view is the timing of the referendum should be determined by the timing of the renegotiation. When the renegotiation is complete, we set a date for the referendum.

"I don't myself think it should be determined by the timing of other elections."

Meanwhile, Sky News has learnt European leaders will discuss Mr Cameron's EU renegotiation plans at a crucial summit taking place at the end of this month .