David Cameron flies to France after father has stroke

David Cameron is flying to France today to be with his parents after his father, Ian, suffered a stroke on holiday. Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, will fill in for Cameron at prime minister's questions in the Commons at noon. Cameron has spoken in the past about the inspiration he drew from his father, a former stockbroker, who sought to live a normal life despite having severely disabled legs. A spokesman for the prime minister said Cameron's mother, Mary, phoned to alert her son to his father's condition before 7am this morning. After speaking to doctors in France, Cameron decided that he needed to go and see him. Cameron's wife, Samantha — who gave birth to their daughter Florence last month — and their children are not accompanying him to the south of France. However, the PM's brother and sister are also travelling to the country. A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister was informed this morning that his father, Ian, is seriously ill after suffering a stroke and heart complications while on holiday in France. After talking to doctors at the hospital, the prime minister has decided to fly to be with his father and mother Mary." Cameron, who was back in Downing Street this week after taking paternity leave following the birth of his daughter, Florence, was due to take his first prime minister's questions in almost two months following the parliamentary break over the summer. Together with a bulging in-tray, the prime minister was expected to face difficult questions about director of communications Andy Coulson's knowledge of phone hacking when he was editor of News of the World. Clegg may now face these instead. The Guardian reported today that a key witness has said that Coulson is going to give evidence to the police for the first time, and Sue Cameron, the Financial Times's Whitehall expert, says top civil servants want Coulson to resign.