He described the party as a broad church that drew on a wide variety of backgrounds and experience. But then things turned nasty.

"We are not run by factions,"he said to instant guffaws of laughter.

A visibly uncomfortable prime minister handled the confrontation as best he could:"Well you may dispute that but I have to tell you,from experience,we are not run by factions,"he said.

"Nor are we run by big business,or by deals in back rooms."