Cameron: Johnson is not too posh for job

The Tory leader defended his former Eton and Oxford colleague after he was challenged over whether Mr Johnson had enough real-life experience to be able to address violent crime during a campaign visit to Kingston.

He said: "I don't think your level of in-touchness is to do with your upbringing. It's about whether you spend time listening to people or getting out into different parts of London and hearing what they've got to say," he said.

"The people out of touch are those who say there's no social breakdown in parts of our city.

"If you look at Boris's campaign, it's absolutely focused on issues people care about - crime, transport, green spaces."

Mr Cameron also defended his candidate's decision to remove three of his four children from state schools. Mr Johnson claimed the schools in Islington, where he lives, were not up to scratch.

"It's a personal decision," said Mr Cameron. Later, he was asked whether he was concerned gaffeprone Mr Johnson would put his foot in it if elected. He replied: "No... I think Boris would do a very good job and I think you've seen that in the campaign. Yes, he's a free spirit and, yes, he speaks his mind and, yes, that sometimes gets him into trouble.

"But frankly I think it's a good thing we have politicians who aren't cardboard cut-outs and just say what they're told and who tell us what they think and Boris is a character and is a human being.

"He's hugely charismatic and I think people respond to that."