Cameron rode NI exec's horse

Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East has said that Prime Minister David Cameron should have "come clean" from the beginning about borrowing former News International Chief executive, Rebekah Brook's horse to avoid embarrassment.

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has claimed that Prime Minister David Cameron had never ridden the horse that was loaned by the Metropolitan police to former News International Chief, Rebekah Brooks.

Contradicting Downing Street's confirmation that Mr Cameron did ride Raisa, Mr Clarkson told Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2: "I can categorically state that he never rode that horse. I do actually live there. It's all rubbish."

Mr Clarkson, who writes newspaper columns for News International titles The Sun and The Sunday Times, was speaking before Mr Cameron himself admitted that he had ridden Raisa.

"I saw that horse and it wasn't badly treated as some people were saying, it was beautifully treated, it was only there for a very short time and David Cameron never rode it," Mr Clarkson said. He added that he himself had never ridden it, but Mrs Brooks "probably did and her husband did".

The shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman has said David Cameron has not been upfront about his News International connections:

David Cameron has ended a whole week of speculation about whether he ever rode the former police horse Raisa owned by the former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks before he was Prime Minister.

He did, he admitted to journalists at a press conference in Brussels. But he said he wouldn't be getting back in the saddle anytime soon.

David Cameron has confirmed he did ride the police horse loaned to former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks.

He added that he would not be getting back into the saddle anytime soon.

David Cameron "probably" rode a horse which was lent by police to former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, his spokeswoman said. The Prime Minister has been friends with Mrs Brooks' husband Charlie since they were at Eton together, and have been riding together on many occasions.

Mr Cameron told Channel 5 news: "It's a matter of record that I have been riding with Rebekah Brooks' husband, Charlie Brooks. He is a friend of mine for 30 years standing.

"But since I have been Prime Minister I think I have been on a horse once and it wasn't that one."

Rebekah Brooks was arrested and questioned on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption last July, days after resigning as News International chief executive.

She remains on bail.