Calm down dear: Cameron

Cameron: I’m not sure if I’m a feminist

Cameron: I’m not sure if I’m a feminist

David Cameron has struggled with whether he is a feminist or not during an interview with a women's magazine.

The prime minister was doing a pre-conference interview with mid-market women's magazine Red when he was asked if he would call himself a feminist.

The interviewer said he stared out the window for "rather a long time" before replying: "Umm… I… I don't know what I'd call myself… it's up to others to attach labels. But I believe men and women should be treated equally.

"And there has been a historic disadvantage that women have faced, which governments need to help correct and I think that's what we've been doing."

The interview is part of a Tory effort to improve the party's reputation among women voters, after polling showed declining female support for the Conservatives.

Part of that initiative included Cameron's attack on online pornography over the summer, when he promised an opt-in system for new internet connections.

"I want to stress, if parents are hoping I have all the answers, I haven't," he said.

"We are trying to work out where we can make a difference, what the [internet] companies and police have to do – and helping parents, too. If the sites behave badly you should boycott them."