DAVID CAMERON plumbed the depths of playground politics yesterday when he responded to serious questions about the NHS with insults to Jeremy Corbyn’s over his dress sense. 

The 49-year-old Prime Minister was strongly criticised for his childish response to scrutiny over the funding crisis facing health services in his own constituency.

The tetchy Tory snapped when Labour backbencher Carolyn Harris heckled him about his mum’s involvement in anti-cuts protests. 

Mr Corbyn has made a virtue of avoiding personal attacks and did not mention Mary Cameron. 

Mr Cameron didn’t hold back, however, saying: “I think I know what my mother would say. I think she would look across the despatch box and she would say ‘Put on a proper suit, do up your tie and sing the national anthem.”

Tory backbenchers howled in satisfaction at their boss’s Bullingdon Club behaviour. 

But, not for the first time, it appeared that Mr Cameron had misjudged the public mood. His comments were savaged on social media. Junior doctor Nadia Masood asked: “Why not answer serious questions about future of nations’ health rather than make playground jibes about dress sense?”

Labour MP Rachel Maskell said: “Why did the Tories laugh at #PMQs when we were discussing patients dying? I’ve worked in the NHS for 20 years and am shocked by disrespect.”

While left-wing comedian Mark Steel added: “Cameron’s right — Mussolini and Idi Amin always showed respect with a tie done up smart, but Gandhi and Jesus were both a scruffy disgrace.”

Mr Cameron’s bullying style proved so unpopular that Labour took the unusual step of publishing a video of the exchange.

A senior Labour source said: “I think when you are losing an argument, you resort to personal insult.”

The comment also backfired in the Commons, inspiring one of the most combative performances yet from Mr Corbyn. The Labour leader roared back: “If we’re talking of motherly advice, my late mother would have said stand up for the principle of a health service free at the point of use for everybody.”

He also delivered a devastating riposte to Mr Cameron’s claim that NHS founder Nye Bevan would support the government’s plans to create a “seven-day NHS” by imposing a new contract on junior doctors.

“Nye Bevan would be turning in his grave if he could hear the Prime Minister’s attitude towards the NHS,” said Mr Corbyn. 

The PM’s spokesman was not so keen to talk about fashion when asked by the Morning Star where Mr Cameron bought his suits and how much they cost.