Two Tory MPs openly criticise David Cameron

Prime Minister David Cameron has come under attack today by two of the region's Conservative MPs. In a national newspaper Suffolk MP Tim Yeo asks whether Mr Cameron wants to be another Harold McMillan 'presiding over a dignified slide into insignificance'.

Senior Conservative Tim Yeo, the MP for Suffolk South, has goaded David Cameron over the expansion of Heathrow airport, urging him to decide if he is "a man or a mouse".

The former environment minister, who chairs the Commons energy committee, insists that environmental objections to controversial calls for a third runway are disappearing and claimed backing the move would give the Government a "sense of mission".

It comes after housing minister Grant Shapps warned a third runway was needed to ensure the UK remained a "great trading nation" and Mayor of London Boris Johnson accused Mr Cameron of "pussyfooting around" on expansion.

Mr Yeo was previously a high profile opponent of expansion but now argues European Union carbon emissions caps will force airlines to use more environmentally friendly planes if they want to use new capacity at Heathrow.

Downing Street said the coalition would stick by its commitment that there would not be a third runway.

"The coalition parties have made a pledge not to have a third runway and that is a pledge that we will keep. We don't see the argument for a third runway," a No 10 spokeswoman said.

Bedfordshire MP Nadine Dorries has also added her voice to the critcisms of his leadership, telling Anglia News there is widespread concern in the party about David Cameron's ability to lead the Conservatives to victory in the next election.