Cameron blasts 'stupid' BBC as he lashes out at Radio 5 for scheduling debate that clashed with his visit to Eastleigh for by-election

• Prime Minister visits Hampshire to support Conservative Maria Hutchings
• But their trip to factory means candidate misses by-election hustings
• Party accused of hiding Hutchings because of her off-message views
• Cameron blames BBC for conflict and accuses it of being arrogant
• PM to reporter: 'You're not the most important thing in this by-election'

David Cameron today accused the BBC of behaving 'badly and stupidly' by arranging a hustings for the Eastleigh by election which clashed with his visit to the constituency.
Fresh from a three-day trip to India, the Prime Minister travelled to the Hampshire town to support Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings in her bid to capture the seat from the Liberal Democrats.
But Mr Cameron's visit forced the candidate to miss hustings with her rivals, leading to claims the party was trying to conceal her off-message views from voters.

Campaign appearance: David Cameron at Prysmian Cables & Systems in Eastleigh, Hampshire

Crunch: The Prime Minister faces a tough test in the constituency, previously held by the Liberal Democrats

Row: Tory candidate Maria Hutchings, pictured, missed a hustings event to campaign with her party leader

When a reporter asked the Prime Minister why Mrs Hutchings had not attended the event, he reacted angrily and blamed the BBC for the scheduling conflict.

'She was with me at a very important meeting in a business that's the sort of beating heart of Eastleigh employing hundreds of people, and she's been doing hustings up and down the constituency,' he shot back.
The BBC journalist pointed out that he had been able to attend both events, but Mr Cameron replied sharply: 'Well, you were a bit late.'

He added: 'I think the BBC has behaved badly and stupidly about this from everything I've heard about what's happened, but she has been doing hustings.

'My understanding is that we were discussing with you for ages beforehand about the timing of the hustings and the fact that Maria wanted to be with me for this meeting.'

Humour: The Prime Minister joked with the crowd as he attempted to win them over to the Tory cause

Partnership: But Conservative bosses are said to worry that their candidate is a 'loose cannon'

The Prime Minister insisted that the Conservatives had not been 'hiding' Mrs Hutchings, whose views on many issues are seen to be well to the right of the party leadership.

'This is a totally got up thing by the BBC,' he said. 'You know you're not the most important thing in this by-election - the candidates are.'
Mr Cameron and Mrs Hutchings helped open a new £2million high-voltage laboratory at Prysmian Cables & Systems.
Her place at the hustings was taken by neighbouring MP George Hollingbery, leading to Lib Dem accusations that the Conservatives were hiding her away.

Audience: Mr Cameron was in Eastleigh to open a new high-voltage laboratory at the factory

Factory floor: Mr Cameron and Mrs Hutchings with Paul Atkinson, CEO of the firm that owns the plant

'The Tory candidate is clearly running scared,' Lib Dem party president Tim Farron said. 'She's refusing to show up to a hustings with the people she says she wants to represent, proving her claims to stay in touch are empty and worthless.
'It is clear that the Tory candidate is so at odds with her own party leader, they are resorting to a desperate game of hide and seek.
'You have to ask why Cameron's Conservative machine keeps trying to hide her away. This is a candidate who says on her leaflets that she puts local people before political ambition, yet the moment she gets to share the spotlight with her party leader all that is forgotten.'
Conservative sources earlier said the clash was inevitable and that it would have looked strange if Mrs Hutchings did not join the Prime Minister at the factory.
But party bosses are believed to fear that the candidate might prove a 'loose cannon' due to her views on issues such as abortion, gay marriage and the EU where she strays from the party line.

Arrival: The Prime Minister travelled to Eastleigh by train a week before the by-election in the constituency

Meet and greet: Mr Cameron shakes hand with some potential voters at the local railway station

The by-election, which was sparked by the resignation of disgraced former minister Chris Huhne after he pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, takes place a week today.
During his visit to the factory, Mr Cameron took questions from workers on topics including Europe, immigration, benefits and VAT.
On the topic of handouts, the Prime Minister shared the frustration of one man who complained that alcoholics get extra money to feed their addiction.
'I think I have found my next welfare minister here,' Mr Cameron said. 'It drives people mad to know that they are working hard, paying their taxes and yet they can see someone on the same street as them swinging the lead.'
The by-election contest, pitting the Tory and Lib Dem coalition partners against each other, is seen as a key test for the Prime Minister in the kind of seat his party needs to win if he is to get an outright majority at the next general election in 2015.

Favourite: Lib Dem candidate Mike Thornton, pictured with party leader Nick Clegg, is hoping to win Eastleigh

Challenger: Labour's John O'Farrell, pictured with deputy leader Harriet Harman, is also in the running

Disgraced: Chris Huhne, pictured with his ex-wife Vicky Pryce, was the local MP until earlier this month

Both parties have poured resources into the contest, with a string of ministers and high-profile figures filing down to Eastleigh to campaign, but there have been signs that the Lib Dems have mobilised most effectively so far on behalf of their candidate Mike Thornton.
It is believed they have a strong lead in postal votes, giving the Tories a mountain to climb on election day, February 28.
Meanwhile, Labour candidate John O'Farrell was campaigning with shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg at a nursery in Eastleigh.
Former MP Huhne - who faces prison when he is sentenced - held the seat for the Lib Dems at the 2010 general election with a majority of 3,864.

Yesterday: The Prime Minister visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar with Punjabi officials on Wednesday