Piffle: Boris Johnson gets into the Olympic spirit yesterday by presenting medals for a cycling race in Essex

Boris Johnson has described David Cameron's claim that Britain is a 'broken society' as 'piffle'.

In an intervention likely to dismay Tory HQ, the London mayor claimed our success at the Olympics proves youngsters are far from 'aimless, feckless and hopeless, addicted to their PlayStations'.

'If you believe the politicians, we have a broken society, in which the courage and morals of young people have been sapped by welfarism and political correctness,' he said.

'And if you look at what is happening at the Beijing Olympics, you can see what piffle that is.'

Mr Cameron has called for Britain's 'broken society' to be mended by reforming welfare, ending discrimination against married couples in the tax and benefits system, and introducing a zero tolerance approach to crime.

Only this week, the Conservative leader said he intends to be as radical a social reformer as Margaret Thatcher was an economic one.

But Mr Johnson, who ousted Labour's Ken Livingstone in May, joined Gordon Brown yesterday in dismissing Mr Cameron's claims.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister insisted the country is fundamentally 'decent and compassionate'.

'I don't think the British people have ever been broken by anything or anyone,' he said.

A source close to Mr Cameron said: 'Boris is Boris. There are going to be times when he and David don't necessarily agree on everything.

Broken society: The infamous moment David Cameron was mocked shortly after his 'hug a hoodie' speech

'He has to do what's right for London, while we are looking at the national picture. They won't always meet in the middle.'

But last night, Labour seized on Mr Johnson's remarks.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: 'Boris Johnson has exposed David Cameron's mantra that Britain is broken for what it is: Piffle.

'Only this week, the Tory leader was again saying our country is broken. Yet today the mayor has been frank in his opposition to his leader's claim, which has always been the most cynical nonsense.

'Whatever David Cameron might say, Britain is a decent, compassionate and vibrant nation, and on almost every measure it has got better in the past decade. No one has broken Britain and no one ever will.'

Mr Johnson's outburst came as he pushed out a senior adviser in what has been seen as another assertion of independence from Tory HQ.

Tim Parker stood down as 'first deputy mayor' after Mr Johnson stripped him of running Transport for London from next month.

Mr Parker, 52, is close to shadow Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude and was one of a number of high-powered aides overseeing Mr Johnson's administration.

He is the second of the mayor's deputies to leave since May and the third senior aide to go.

Deputy mayor Ray Lewis was forced to stand down after wrongly claiming he was a magistrate, while senior political strategist James McGrath quit over a race row.

Both Mr Johnson and Mr Parker insisted last night that the decision was reached amicably.