Cameron rejects Northern city claim

Mr Cameron attempted to calm northern voters by attacking the report which wrote off some towns and cities as "beyond revival".

The report by the Policy Exchange claimed regeneration had failed and people should leave cities such as Liverpool, Sunderland and Bradford and relocate to the south-east.

The Policy Exchange is widely described as David Cameron's favourite think-tank.

But Mr Cameron distanced himself from the think tank and said its ideas would not be adopted as party policy.

"This report has got nothing to do with the Conservative Party, this is an independent think tank, it has charitable status, I think this report is complete rubbish. It is barmy," Mr Cameron said.

"It has produced some good work in the past, but this is a very bad report. Sometimes they come up with good ideas and sometimes they come up with bad ideas. This is a bad one.

"I think there is a resurgence going on in Britain's northern cities.

"It certainly won't become Conservative Party policy. Conservative Party policy will continue the good work of regenerating cities right across England, including northern cities."

The timing of the Policy Exchange report comes at an embarrassing time for Mr Cameron as he embarks on a two-day visit to Cumbria and the North West of England, also taking in Merseyside.