Rightwing Conservatives have launched their first concerted attack on David Cameron, accusing him of spending "too much time with the pseuds and posers of London's chichi set and not enough time in normal Britain".

The Cornerstone group of 40 socially conservative MPs have criticised the Tory leader's drive to recruit more female and ethnic minority MPs, urging local parties to "resist political correctness and avoid lightweights and celebrities" when picking candidates.