David and Samantha Cameron both thought their daughter was with the other parent

Cameron ‘abandoned’ eight-year-old daughter in pub

Cameron ‘abandoned’ eight-year-old daughter in pub

David and Samantha Cameron left their eight-year-old daughter behind after a weekend trip to the pub, it has emerged.

The prime minister's credentials as a reliable family man are threatened by the story that he left daughter Nancy behind for a full 15 minutes at the Plough Inn, a pub in Cadsden, Buckinghamshire near the PM's weekend retreat at Chequers.

"It's not like you can look up David Cameron in the phonebook and then ring to say you've left your daughter behind," a pub 'source' told the Sun newspaper.

"It's frightening that the prime minister of Britain can forget something so important as his own daughter."

Details of the story reveal that the prime minister's mix-up was the result of the Cameron family's unusual need to be accompanied by protection officers, meaning two cars had to be used.

Mr Cameron and his wife reportedly left in separate vehicles, with Mr Cameron with protection officers and his wife with the couple's other two children in another.

Nancy had gone to the toilet without telling either of them, leaving them both concluding that she was with the other parent.

They only realised the mistake when they arrived back at Chequers. But a quick phone-call to the pub established that the briefly abandoned Nancy had been helping out staff.

"The prime minister went down straight away to get her," a No 10 spokesman said.

Reports about the incident, which happened around two months ago, are inconveniently timed for Mr Cameron. He is still smarting after details of his 'chillaxing' habits at the weekend were revealed.

The prime minister's weekend activities include enjoying several glasses of wine, an afternoon nap and playing snooker, a book published last month claimed.

Criticisms from unsympathetic quarters that the prime minister's weekend habits display a singular lack of energy might seem a little harsh given Mr Cameron's responsibilities, however.