David Cameron pledged to cut 10 per cent from the cost of running parliament by curbing MPs’ perks, in a bid on Tuesday to outflank Labour by signalling the Tories’ determination to cut public spending.

The Conservative leader set out plans to tackle politicians’ “cushy lifestyle” by ending food and drink subsidies, axing one-third of the 171 chauffeur-driven ministerial cars and cutting ministerial salaries by 5 per cent. He reiterated his proposals to shrink the number of MPs from 650 to 585.