Cameron slams 'personal attacks'

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Conservative leader David Cameron has hit back at what he calls "personal attacks" on him by the prime minister.

Mr Cameron said it was "rather sad" that Tony Blair had resorted to "negative politics".

During local election campaigning in Devon, he said he had put the interests of Britain ahead of party politics.

Earlier Mr Blair told Labour activists that the Tories had learnt the tactics of opposition, but did not have a strategy for government.

Addressing party members in his own constituency in Sedgefield he said the Tories had "learnt the importance of image in the modern age but not the essence of true politics in any age".

Media tactics

He added: "Almost 18 months now into the new Tory leadership under David Cameron I don't believe that they have a proper strategy for government.

"Yes, they are better now at the tactics of using media and Parliament to harry the government, but every time they are called on to make a big judgment call on policy, they misfire."

The Tory leader is on the campaign trail in Devon

He also accused them of "poor conviction" and "chasing the electoral quarry", rather than being prepared to take difficult decisions.

Mr Cameron responded saying the Conservatives had backed government legislation on the "big decisions", like replacing Trident, "and do the right thing for Britain rather than play politics"

He added: "I think it is rather sad that, after 10 years of Blair, that he has resorted to personal attacks and I think if people want to vote against that kind of negative politics, they have got a chance to do so on 3 May."

At the organic Occombe Farm in Paignton, South Devon, where he was supporting candidates for the upcoming local elections, he also said the government should be buying more British food for schools, hospitals and the Army.

He said it was "frankly scandalous" that the government did not measure how much British food they buy for the public sector and that only 3% of lamb bought by the Army was British.

"If you do not measure how much food you are procuring you cannot work out whether you can do better," he said.

"I think we need to do more to support and promote local food - the government included."