Cameron under pressure amid ‘meltdown’ and elitism claims

British Prime Minister David Cameron is under pressure to reassert his authority over a Conservative Party reeling after a week which saw the resignation of a senior minister and claims of incompetence and elitism at the heart of his government.

After one of the most bruising weeks for the centre-right party since it took power in a coalition in 2010, the Conservatives have slipped further behind their Labour rivals, polls showed yesterday. The next election is due in 2015.

Cameron will try to regain the initiative today with a speech setting out a tougher stance on crime after a series of policy missteps, U-turns, and embarrassments since an unpopular budget in March.