David Cameron denies admitting Tories could not win a majority

The prime minister has trashed a claim from the Liberal Democrats that he admitted the Conservative party would not be able to win a majority on 7 May.

David Cameron branded the Lib Dems “increasingly desperate”, after a tweet from Lib Dem peer and campaign spokesman Lord Scriven suggested Mr Cameron had previously said in private to Nick Clegg that the Tories “won’t win a majority”.

Mr Clegg would not be drawn directly on Lord Scriven’s comments, but said there was “quite a gulf” between what the Tories were saying publicly and privately – and that claims they could get an overall majority were a “big, fat fib”.

During a visit to Wells, Mr Cameron was asked again whether he had told Mr Clegg the Tories would not win a majority, to which he replied: “Certainly not.”

“We won’t be put off by these increasingly desperate Lib Dem tactics,” he added.

“I could tell you all the things he has said to me in private. That would certainly surprise you.”