- .The PM took time off dealing with Iraq crisis to go body boarding in Cornwall
- .Spent 20 minutes in water while his security team watched from the shore
- .He returned to Downing Street following James Foley's execution yesterday
- .But returned after just 19 hours in London and critics say he's 'complacent'
David Cameron let mounting criticism of his Cornish holiday wash over him today - by going body boarding.
Opponents have accused the Prime Minister of complacency over the Iraq crisis and have publicly demanded that he return to Number 10 to get a grip on the developing crisis in Iraq.
Mr Cameron only returned to Downing Street on Wednesday morning, following the brutal execution of hostage James Foley - but went back to the West Country just 19 hours later.
Making waves: Prime Minister David Cameron clutches a body board enjoys the surf in Cornwall
Drying off: The Prime Minister with a towel. He returned to his holiday after a 19-hour dash to Downing Street
Surfing safari: Cameron clutches his body board as he walks across the beach after time in the sea
Mr Cameron today appeared to put the stresses of high office to one side, by joining fellow holidaymakers riding the waves on a beach in Cornwall.
It comes after the Barack Obama sparked anger in the US after being pictured laughing with friends on a golf course just hours after describing the beheading of Mr Foley 'an act of violence that shocks the conscience of the entire world'.
Images of Mr Cameron playing in the surf come amid mounting pressure for a recall of Parliament to deal with the growing threat of Islamic State insurgents sweeping through Iraq and Syria.
The Prime Minister returned to Downing Street for emergency meetings with the Foreign Secretary on Wednesday morning after a video was published online of the brutal beheading of Mr Foley by a jihadi thought to be British.
Mr Cameron is believed to have ordered the security services to track down Mr Foley's British killers, but pledged not to offer a 'knee jerk' response to the murder.
Speaking from Downing Street, Mr Cameron said: 'Let me condemn the barbaric and brutal act that has taken place and let's be clear what this act is - it is an act of murder, and murder without any justification.'
Wet and wild: Wet suit wearing Cameron turned a few heads as he strolled along the sand after a dip
The PM was pictured back on the beach hours after being accused of complacency over the Iraq crisis
Crashing the waves: Cameron decided to go back to his holiday instead of handling the crisis in Downing Street
Just 19 hours later however Number 10 announced that Mr Cameron was on his way back to Cornwall to join his third family holiday of the year - and his fifteenth since becoming Prime Minister.
Mr Cameron today took to the water in a three quarter-length wet suit and brightly-coloured bodyboard after hiring boards from a local trader.
An onlooker said: 'He seemed pretty relaxed and having a good time by himself.
'He didn't do any real surfing - the conditions weren't really there for it - but he had a go on the body board a couple of times.
'The weather was pretty good - rather sunny - and he took full advantage of it.'
Another onlooker said: 'He then walked down the beach and happily spent around 20 minutes body boarding in the sea.
'The waves were over a metre high so there was a bit of surf to play in. He seemed to really enjoy himself. After a while they all got out and walked back up the beach.'
After the surf session Mr Cameron left in his security convoy.
Government sources have insisted that he remains in full touch with Whitehall during his break with a secure phone line set up for his stay .
But critics accused the Prime Minister of a dereliction of duty – and questioned why he has refused to recall Parliament to debate Mr Foley’s murder and the threat to security posed by jihadis who return to the UK.
Cameron's security team watched the PM from the beach while he enjoyed the surf for 20 minutes
Sun and sand: But critics accused the Prime Minister of a dereliction of duty and questioned why he has refused to recall Parliament to debate Mr Foley’s murder and the threat to security posed by jihadis
In the US, President Obama faced similar criticism after he was pictured smiling on the golf course within minutes of giving a speech condemning the murder.
Mr Obama's decision to return to the golf course just hours after giving a sombre five minute address over the killing of Mr Foley sparked fury in the US.
The President told a global audience that 'when people harm Americans, anywhere, we do what’s necessary to see that justice is done'.
But he was then seen laughing with friends and fist-bumping them during a five-hour round at Farm Neck on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.
Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters could hardly contain his anger Wednesday night on the Fox News Channel as he discussed Obama's reactions to the ISIS terror network's beheading of Foley, an American who had been missing since 2012.
'There is no way the president should be stupid enough to go play golf' after such a somber speech, Peters said.
'Not only did he insult the Foley family; he sent a message to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (the leader of ISIS) and all of the other jihadi terrorist militants – now soldiers of a jihadi army – that he doesn't take it all seriously.'
Labour MP Ann Clwyd, former British human rights envoy to Iraq, was equally furious about Mr Cameron's decision to return to his holiday in Britain.
She said: ‘I just find it extraordinary that he has gone off on holiday again after a few hours back in London – it is just not good enough.
'If he is serious about the threat to Britain, as he says he is and as he ought to be, then he should not be pushing off on holiday. He should be recalling MPs to Parliament so that we can discuss the situation and debate our response.'
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