David Cameron dubbed shadow chancellor Ed Balls "the most annoying person in modern politics" during noisy Commons exchanges.

David Cameron dubbed shadow chancellor Ed Balls "the most annoying person in modern politics" during noisy Commons exchanges.

The PM had his dig at Mr Balls as he was trying to answer a question from Labour MP Joan Whalley.

"I wish the shadow chancellor would occasionally shut up and listen to the answer," said Mr Cameron.

He told a grinning Mr Balls: "I may be alone in thinking him the most annoying person in modern politics."

And - with MPs in uproar - he added a further jibe about Mr Balls' supposed party leadership ambitions, saying: "I've got a feeling the leader of the opposition will one day agree with me, but there we are."