- .Prime Minister David Cameron gives exclusive interview to MailOnline
- .Hits back at claims Britain is not doing enough to counter ISIS threat
- .Warns it will take many, many years but says ISIS can be defeated
- .However, the 'disease' of jihadist extremism is spreading worldwide
- .Tory leader answers questions submitted by MailOnline readers
- .He defends foreign aid billions and breaking promise to cut migration
- .Boasts that the benefit cap is getting workless families into jobs
- .Insists he is not scared of Farage and won't rule out Ukip coalition
- .Says we no longer live in 'broken Britain' thanks to economic legacy
- .Last used NHS when son stood on a wasps nest and was stung 60 times
- .Wants to appear on Gogglebox and has heard 'Let It Go' too many times
The threat posed by the 'disease' of Islamic extremism will last for a generation, David Cameron warned today as he rejected claims Britain was not doing enough to take on ISIS.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the Prime Minister insisted the government was doing all it could to 'defeat the monstrosity of Isil'.
But he warned it would require 'long-term determination and perseverance' in a fight which might not end in his lifetime.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the Prime Minister insisted the government was doing all it could to ’defeat the monstrosity of Isil’
In a wide-ranging interview, answering questions submitted by MailOnline readers, Mr Cameron defended spending billions on foreign aid and breaking his promise to cut immigration.
The PM insisted the benefit cap was getting people back to work and suggested that we no longer live in what he once called 'broken Britain'.
The Tory leader claimed he was not scared of Nigel Farage, while pointedly refusing to rule out a coalition with Ukip.
And he revealed his last experience of using the NHS was when his son stood on a wasps nest, admitted to being a fan of Gogglebox and like every parent of young children spoke wearily of listening to the songs of Disney film Frozen over and over again.
The disease is the Islamist extremism and that's what we have to fight, that's the narrative that we have to beat
Prime Minister David Cameron
Many of the questions submitted by MailOnline readers demanded a tougher response from Britain to the threat posed by ISIS, not least since the horrific video posted online of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh.
A damning report from the defence select committee today blasted the UK’s 'tiny' contribution to the fight against ISIS, also known as Isil, Daesh and Islamic State.
It found the UK has carried out just 6 per cent of air strikes against jihadists, the equivalent of just one per day.
But Mr Cameron told MailOnline: 'We are doing everything that we can to defeat the monstrosity of Isil.
'Look, we are taking action, we are the second nation in terms of bombing runs that have been carried out in Iraq.
'That is making a difference on the ground and we are seeing the growth of Iraqi security forces and Kurdish forces sweeping Isil out of parts of Iraq and we need a long term plan for both Iraq and Syria so we defeat Isil.'
The Prime Minister warned it would require 'long-term determination and perseverance' to defeat ISIS - and warned the struggle might not end in his lifetime
He insisted countering the threat was about more than just military action. 'We have got to go after the hate preachers, we've got to go after the radicalisation.
'We have got to stop people travelling to Syria, we have got to prosecute those who have been and been radicalised and would do us harm.
These videos are absolutely horrific and depraved... I take the time to see what they are doing so I understand what families have been going through
'You have seen actually a big growth in the number of people in Britain who have been prosecuted and convicted for Islamist extremist violence. And we need to keep up our guard.'
Mr Cameron has read detailed reports of the latest video, in which al-Kassasbeh was set alight, but he has not actually watched it in full.
He did, however, view the footage of British hostages being beheaded last year.
'These videos are absolutely horrific and depraved,' the Prime Minister said.
'And obviously I take the time to see what they are doing so I understand what families have been going through.'
Asked if Britain would be free of the jihadist threat in his lifetime, he admitted it was a battle which would last many years.
'I think the threat of Islamist extremism is a threat that we are going to face throughout this generation. It is going to be years rather than months.'
Mr Cameron's warning comes just days after ISIS released the horrific video of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh being burnt alive
Mr Cameron spoke exclusively to MailOnline on his way to Leeds to unveil the Tory economic plan for Yorkshire
While ISIS could be defeated eventually in Iraq and Syria, the 'disease' of Islamic extremism is spreading around the world and is harder to contain, he warned.
'What we have seen with Islamist extremism whether it is in Mali or Somalia or Afghanistan is that the disease is not necessarily the individual country.
'The disease is the Islamist extremism and that's what we have to fight, that's the narrative that we have to beat.
'We can overcome it because the overwhelming majority of Muslims want nothing to do with this.
'They think it is a perversion of their religion. And we need them to help us to fight it and snuff it out.
'It can be done, we have seen movements like this eradicated in our history. We just need to show the long term determination and perseverance to do it in is case do.'
While ISIS could be defeated eventually in Iraq and Syria, the 'disease' of Islamic extremism is spreading around the world and is harder to contain, Mr Cameron warned
However, according to today's defence select committee report there were only three UK military personnel outside the Kurdish regions of Iraq, compared with 400 Australians, 280 Italians and 300 Spanish, when the MPs visited Iraq before Christmas.
The committee said it is ‘very surprising that the UK Government is doing so little’, given the rise of Islamic State has proven the ‘sum of all our fears’.
‘Given that Daesh is the most dramatic and significant threat to regional stability and international security to have emerged in the Middle East in decades, we are surprised and deeply concerned that the UK is not doing more,’ it added.
I'm not scared of Farage, says Cameron as he refuses to rule out a coalition with Ukip
David Cameron today insisted he is not frightened of Nigel Farage as he pointedly refused to rule out a coaltion with Ukip.
The Tory Prime Minister repeated his warning that a vote for Ukip would help put Ed Miliband in Number 10.
But he insisted he would not go head to head with Mr Farage, arguing the 'minor parties' should all be included in TV debates before the election campaign gets underway.
Mr Cameron insisted he is not frightened of Nigel Farage - but pointedly refused to rule out a coaltion with Ukip
Many MailOnline readers posted questions and comments for the Tory leader challenging him to square up to Mr Farage, whose rise in popularity could deprive the Conservatives of victory on May 7.
Some wanted the pair to have a pint, others favoured a bare fist fight.
One reader, using the name 'Not Impressed' from Manchester, asked: 'Why are you so frightened to take Nigel Farage on a one to one basis, at least Nick Clegg had the balls.'
But Mr Cameron insisted he will only debate with UKIP if the Lib Dems, Greens and other small parties are included.
'I'm happy to have these debates and I think we should get on with them and have them before the election gets underway,' he told MailOnline.
'But the debate the country needs to have is between the two futures offered at the next election which is a David Cameron-led Conservative government or and Ed Miliband and Ed Balls running the country.
'That is the choice at the election. All Farage offers really is the chance to go to bed with him and wake up with Miliband.'
Asked if he is frightened of Farage, he insisted: 'No not at all.'
So would he take him on one-to-one? 'No, I think we should have the minor parties all in a debate together with the leading parties, that's the format I think should be had.'
Last week Tory party chairman Grant Shapps explicitly ruled out a coalition with Ukip, vowing: 'We are not going to do pacts and deals with Ukip.'
One MailOnline reader, Mudge from Bexhill, challenged the Prime Minister: 'Can I have your word that you will not enter either a formal or informal agreement with Ukip after the next election if you dont get a majority?'
But Mr Cameron refused to make the commitment: 'I don't want to have a coalition with anybody.
'I'm fighting for a majority government, there are 93 days to go and I'm not going to speculate about any outcome other than victory.'
Put to him that Mr Shapps has already ruled out entering a power-sharing deal with Ukip, the Prime Minister was reluctant to repeat the pledge. 'I've given you my answer,' he replies curtly.
Cameron pleads with voters for another chance on immigration
Latest figures show net migration to the UK stood at 260,000, well above David Cameron's promise to cut it to the 'tens of thousands'
Before the last election Mr Cameron pledge 'no ifs, no buts' to reduce net migration to the 'tens off thousands'.
But latest figures show 260,000 more people arrived in the UK than left in the last year, including a record 228,000 extra immigrants who arrived from elsewhere in the European Union.
Jonboy, Bath: 'At the last General Election you promised to cut immigration, but since then gross immigration has risen from 500,000 to 540,000. How can we trust you when you say you want to cut immigration further?'
Mr Cameron said: 'We have made progress on immigration from outside the EU. We promised a cap on the numbers, we've delivered that. We promised tougher rules and we have delivered them.
'We promised to kick out extremist preachers and we have done so.
'But in terms of EU migration, partly because Britain has become the jobs factory of Europe, and created 1,000 jobs every day, more than the rest of Europe put together, we have had an increase of migration form the EU.
'I am setting out very specific things that we will do: no unemployment beliefs, out in six months if you haven't got a job, you've got to work here for six years before you can take out of the benefit system, and you can't send your child benefit home to your kids in other countries.
'Those are specific commitments. People can see with me when I make specific commitments, like I did to our pensioners, like I did in terms of pensioner benefits and the old age pension, I keep those commitments.'
Cutting benefit cap to £23,000 will get more people back in work
The Department for Work and Pensions claims those who would be impacted by the cap are 41 per cent more likely to go into work than a similar group who fall just below the cap’s level.
The Tories are now promising to cut the cap again, in the hope it forces more people into work.
But even this is more than many people in work take home after tax.
People don't pay their taxes so that families who could work don't work.
Mr Cameron told MailOnline: 'I understand the concern that people have the benefit cap is too high and that's why we'll cut it to £23,000.
'The benefits cap is right in principle because people don't pay their taxes so that families who could work don't work.
'People pay their taxes so we support people who really need to be supported. But the benefit cap is also working in practice.'
The Prime Minister went on: 'The figures we are seeing about 200 families every week coming off the benefit cap and into work which I think is really positive.
'The figures also show that people are more likely to get into work than those just below the benefit cap.
'So it's a good policy. It's working well and I'm sure it had the support of readers of MailOnline.'
Is Britain still broken? And why are politicians all liars?
The Prime Minister spoke to MailOnline while on the train to Yorkshire this morning
Time and again amongst the thousands of questions posted by MailOnline readers there were accusations that politicians in general, and David Cameron in particular, could not be trusted.
Promises were broken, difficult choices fudged and, bluntly, lies were told.
Trust - and the lack of it - remains a huge problem in politics, and has fuelled the rise in smaller parties promising to do something different.
Many MailOnline readers accused Mr Cameron of telling lies and not giving a straight answer to questions.
'You have pretty straight answers so far,’ he insists, defensively, before listing promises he has not broken.
'Look everyone wants our political system to deliver better, but I would are in a four and three-quarter, nearly five-year government, the key things that we said we’d do, in terms of putting the country back to work, getting the economy growing, keeping our promises to our pensioners, not breaking the promise we made the poorest people in the world.
'We kept those commitments but obviously more work we need to do.'
One area where he confidently says progress is made is in repairing the fabric of the nation, thanks to his Big Society drive which is rarely heard of these days in the Tory election machine focused on jobs and growth.
In opposition the Tory leader often warned of the impact of 'broken Britain' under Labour.
So MailOnline reader Thetruthisoutthere from Darlngton asked: 'Is Britain still broken?’
Mr Cameron appeared to think it could well have been fixed: 'I think our society is getting stronger. I've talked about the big society and I continue to do so.
'There are various ways of measuring these things. Volunteering is up, charitable giving is up. People are better able to take over failing state institutions or step in and strengthen their communities, more able to have a right to neighbourhood plans to your neighbourhood.
'I think we have done a lot to strengthen our society and I think Britain is a great country.
'And crime is down too, including some of the appalling knife crime which I was talking about when I first spoke about (broken Britain).’
In today's exclusive interview, the Prime Minister revealed that he was a regular reader of MailOnline
On the train to Doncaster - which just happens to be where Ed Miliband is a local MP - he is surrounded by the circus which comes with being Prime Minister.
The security detail order breakfast, a spin doctor reads the paper, the famous red leather ministerial box sits on the table.
But in barely three months it could all be over. Defeat in the election will almost certainly see him quit as Tory leader, and wave goodbye to the entourage and trappings of power.
It would not be a surprise then if his thoughts turned to his legacy, if he is ousted from Number 10 after one term.
MailOnline reader Geordie boy asked: 'Mr Cameron, this is your time, your time alone, your opportunity in history to do the one thing that is right for your country. The one thing that you would regret if left undone. What would it be?’
Disappointingly, the answer was not as thoughtful as the question, and sounded more like a Tory election leaflet: 'The one thing that matters most to me is securing our economy.
'I think this government has done lots of important things, but the most important this is getting the country back on track, growth jobs, living within our means. That's what it's about.'
Cameron on the horror of his son's 60 wasp stings... and being forced to listen to Frozen song 'Let It Go' again and again
Being Prime Minister does not mean David Cameron can avoid the trials and tribulations of being a parent.
In an interview with MailOnline, he revealed details of a dash to A&E when his son Elwen was stung on the foot 60 times after standing on a wasps' nest.
And he explained how, like millions of other parents, he is forced to listen to Disney hit 'Let It Go' again and again.
Mr Cameron rushed his son Elwen to hospital after he stood on a wasps' nest while out with his mother Samantha
Running the country comes with enormous pressures, though David Cameron does at least get to live above the shop, in his Downing Street flat.
But being Prime Minister does not mean that normal family life does not go on, including moments of crisis.
I won't either give you 'Do You Want To Build A Snowman' or 'Let It Go'
The NHS is set to dominate the election campaign whether the Tories like it or not.
Labour has made clear the health service will be a key weapon in its attacks on the government.
But there is always the danger that as Prime Minister he only gets to see the best hospitals, smartened up for a VIP visit.
MailOnline reader, Demonica from Yorkshire, asked: ’When was the last time you accessed NHS care without prior warning, so that managers had no time to bring in more staff, paint the walls, hide patients and sycophantically pretend that the NHS is thriving under your watch?’
Samantha Cameron also stood on the wasps' nest - causing Elwen to be stung on the foot 60 times
The Prime Minister told MailOnline's political editor Matt Chorley (left) that he had been forced to listen to Disney hit 'Let It Go' repeatedly
Mr Cameron revealed the moment one Sunday afternoon last year when Elwen and Samantha were badly stung on the feet.
In keeping with the government’s official advice, he called the 111 helping - blamed for sending too many people to A&E - and was, unsurprisingly, told to go to A&E.
Mr Cameron said: ’My son stood on a wasps' nest in Oxfordshire and I rang 111 as you should, gave all the details. They advised me to go to A&E in case he got anaphylactic shock.
Even being Prime Minister does not give him the power to stop another rendition of songs from Disney film, Frozen, he revealed today
The family went to the John Radcliffe hospital which serves his Witney constituency in Oxfordshire, where their care was 'very good'.
But he admits 'it wasn't a particularly busy time of day being a Sunday afternoon’, in contrast to the long waits thousands of patients have experienced this winter.
NHS staff gave 'brilliant advice' because young Arthur was 'in a lot of pain, poor thing'.
Mr Cameron added: 'He had been stung 60 times. Samantha stepped on it too, so she had been stung too.
'But he was very brave but they were very good, very reassuring.
'There's been quite a lot of changes at the Radcliffe actually. The A&E is in good shape.'
Away from medical emergencies, Mr Cameron has to balance parenting with running the country.
But even being Prime Minister does not give him the power to stop another rendition of songs from Disney film, Frozen.
Asked if he is a Frozen fan, he replies wearily: 'I have no choice.'
His youngest daughter Florence, aged four, 'of course is Elsa', he says.
His security detail also have to put up with the songs on loop when travelling with the family.
'Florence has got an Elsa dress with all the trimmings and regularly launches into song.'
But he pre-empts the looming challenge to prove his knowledge of Elsa, Anna and Olaf: 'I don't know all the words but I have listened to it being sung more times than I care to remember.
'But I won't either give you Do You Want To Build A Snowman or Let It Go.'
CAMERON: I'M HOOKED ON GOGGLEBOX AND LOVE GAME OF THRONES
From Gogglebox and Game of Thrones to Boris Johnson’s hair, these are the really important questions MailOnline readers wanted answered.
And after five years in coalition with the Lib Dems, is Nick Clegg still his favourite political joke?
David Cameron revealed he is a fan of both House of Cards (left) and Game of Thrones (right)
House of Cards or Game of Thrones?
'Both. Thrones more than Cards. I’m a big Thrones man.'
If you were any character from Game of Thrones, which would you like to be?
'I think you don't want to answer the question is the right answer. I think Michael Gove said he is Tyrion Lannister and I think I'll let him play that part.'
Downton Abbey or Wolf Hall?
'More Wolf Hall. I'm loving it, I think it's very very good.’
What do you think of Boris Johnson’s hair?
'It's a work of art and should be preserved for the nation.’
WH Smith or Smythson (where wife Samantha works)?
'That's an impossible question and one that could lead to all sorts of... It depends what I'm buying.'
The Prime Minister revealed he would be 'delighted' to join Gogglebox's Steph and Dom Parker for an evening of drinking after admitting to being a fan of the show
Despatch Box or Gogglebox?
'I do think Gogglebox is extraordinarily insightful and I think if politicians want to understand how we are viewed at home it's quite recommended viewing.’
Would you have a night on the booze with Dom and Steph Parker, as Nigel Farage did?
'I would be delighted. They look like a really charming couple.'
'Someone said to me, you must watch it because it's very interesting when they watch the news.
'So I watched five minutes and I was hooked, it's completely brilliant.
What - or who - is now your favourite political joke? Presumably you can't say Nick Clegg any more... Or maybe you can?
'Who or what is my favourite political joke? I think today it is my good friend Ed Balls.’
The shadow chancellor floundered on Newsnight this week when he forgot the name of a Labour supporting businessman named ’Bill’.
Mr Cameron joked in the Commons yesterday: ’Bill Somebody is not a person, Bill somebody is Labour’s policy.
The PM said today: ’I think Bill Somebody, which I didn't think of, I will credit the hardworking researcher Rupert Harrison with the authorship of this joke, but I thought it was a cracker.’
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