Cameron laughs off MP's 'threat' claim

David Cameron has laughed off reports that his office threatened a backbench Tory MP over calls for a ban on wild animals in circuses.

Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, Mr Cameron said the government's position was "not a million miles away" from that taken by Mark Pritchard.

The MP said he had been "bullied" by No 10 over his debate on Thursday.

Mr Cameron told reporters his office were not "slavering rottweilers" and "gentle and reasonable" talks were had.

Mr Pritchard made his comments at the start of a backbench debate on banning wild animals in English circuses - something the government has resisted, arguing it had to await the outcome of a legal case in Austria.