CONSERVATIVE leader managed to negotiate the bear pit of Commons Question Time today, despite the emptiness he feels at the death two weeks' ago of his six year-old son Ivan.

Graham Dines

CONSERVATIVE leader managed to negotiate the bear pit of Commons Question Time today, despite the emptiness he feels at the death two weeks' ago of his six year-old son Ivan.

Mr Cameron first told Speaker Michael Martin: “Can I thank you for the kind words you said a fortnight ago about the loss of my son Ivan. I particularly want to thank the Prime Minister for what he said.

“It came straight from the heart and it meant a great deal to Samantha and to me. We've had letters from right across the House of Commons and from thousands of people in the country and it has been a great comfort to know that others are thinking of us.

“A lot of letters have come from families who themselves have lost children. If there's a common theme in them it is that while the loss never goes away, there does come a day where you look back at your child's life and think happy thoughts at their life, rather than feel sorrow at their death.

“I hope that day will come for us too.”

The Prime Minister said: “Let me welcome you back and I understand the grief that you and your family have been going through.” Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg told Mr Cameron: “On behalf of all of us on these benches, we sincerely hope that you and your family have the time and the space to cope with the terrible loss you have suffered.”