Cameron: If PM goes we need an instant election

David Cameron today demanded an immediate general election if Gordon Brown is forced to quit.

He stressed that there should not be a "period of months" between a new Labour leader taking over as Prime Minister and a national poll.

His intervention will be seen as an attempt to deny a "honeymoon period" to David Miliband, or whoever may succeed Mr Brown.

The Tory leader, on holiday in Cornwall, told the Western Morning News: "I don't know whether Gordon Brown will survive or not. All I do know is if he does go we really cannot have a third Prime Minister in two years, the second who has not been elected.

"If he did go there should be an election, in my view, straight away. Not after a period of months, but straight away and let people choose who should run the country." Mr Cameron also accused the whole Cabinet of failing, not just the Prime Minister. He said: "I don't think it's just about personalities. I think Labour are making lots of mistakes to do with policy. That's the whole Cabinet."

It was therefore "incredible" that some Cabinet ministers were being talked up as saviours of the Labour Party, he said.

Mr Cameron also defended the floral shorts he was photographed in while playing frisbee. Speaking to Radio 1 Newsbeat listeners in Newquay, he said: "I think my wife bought them, I think they're quite nice. They're Boden. She said you need some shorts. They're all right aren't they? What, a bit flowery? I've had them for years."