David Cameron has said the victory of Marine Le Pen in the French presidential elections, would be a 'body blow' for Europe.

In one of his first major speeches since resigning as Prime Minister, he said: 'If France were to elect Marine Le Pen, that would be obviously a very big body blow for the European project.'

Speaking at a conference in New Delhi, the former Prime Minister also reiterated the merits of having Britain stay in the European Union.

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Speaking at a conference in New Delhi, the former Prime Minister (pictured at the event) also reiterated the merits of having Britain stay in the European Union

Mr Cameron said the recent rise of 'anti-system, populist' and 'quite extreme political parties' in western Europe did not mark the end of globalisation, but warned of the immediate need to make a 'major course correction' to address related economic and cultural challenges.

He also told the Hindustan Times organised conference in New Delhi that he was hoping for a victory of 'a mainstream party that can unite people behind their candidacy'.

He said the demand for and benefit of free trade, travel, specialisation, technology, innovation were not going away.

'But we do need to understand very profoundly the things that have happened, that have caused the events you have seen in Europe and the wider world in the last one year,' he added.

'A very big body blow for the European project': The former PM made the comments about Marine Le Pen, leader of the French National Front

Cameron resigned as prime minister in June after he - a supporter and campaigner for Britain to remain in the European Union - was defeated in the referendum.

He defended the merits of having Britain stay in the bloc.

'I still believe it would have been better for Britain to remain inside the EU,' he said in the Indian capital.