David Cameron admitted voters wanted to give the mainstream parties a “kicking” in next month’s European and council elections, as he on Monday sought to fend off the threat to the Tory vote from the europhobic UK Independence party.

The Conservative leader urged voters to channel their anger at MPs abusing the expenses system by signing a petition calling for an immediate general election. “Trust in politicians has been shot to pieces,” Mr Cameron said. “There is now only one way of sorting out the mess, and that is for parliament to be dissolved and for a general election to be held right away.”