David Cameron has made the first gaffe of the 2015 campaign — and handed Labour an opportunity

Did the Prime Minister mean to say it or not? That question will be on the lips of pundits and politicos over the next few days as everyone attempts to figure out what was on David Cameron’s mind when he spoke to the BBC’s James Landale. This morning’s papers suggest he has committed the first major gaffe of the 2015 campaign — before the campaign has even officially begun. Today’s Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail and Financial Times have splashed on Cameron’s remarks and the start of the next Tory leadership contest:

While the papers have worked themselves into a frenzy at the gaffe, the mood on the backbenches is calmer. The Tory party has been remarkably united behind Cameron and although this remains the case, there is definitely some anger amongst MPs at his comments. One Tory MP told me he thought the remarks were ‘odd’, noting that ‘I doubt it is massively damaging but sends a message of both weakness and arrogance.