Johnson distances himself from Cameron

Boris Johnson is deliberately distancing himself from David Cameron by describing the Conservative leader's claim that Britain's is a "broken society" as "piffle", senior Tory sources said yesterday.

Referring to the phrase repeatedly used by Mr Cameron to condemn Britain under Labour, London's Mayor wrote in The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday: "If you believe the politicians, we have a broken society, in which the courage and morals of young people have been sapped by welfarism and political correctness. And if you look at what is happening at the Beijing Olympics, you can see what piffle that is."

Sources who know both men say Mr Johnson who, according to friends, has ambitions to be prime minister, is seeking to present an alternative to Mr Cameron. Relations between the two have been strained since Mr Johnson's election victory. Observers have said he is the only Tory with real power.