This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

Backbench Tory MP Nadine Dorries stormed out of the Commons chamber during prime minister's questions after a question designed to put deputy PM Nick Clegg in his place backfired amid gales of laughter.

The MP for Mid Bedfordshire, exercised by the Lib Dems' sway over government policy, vented her anger through her question to Cameron.

"The Liberal Democrats make up 8.7% of this parliament and yet they seem to be influencing our free school policy, health, many issues, immigration and abortion," she said.

"Does the prime minister think it's about time he told the deputy prime minister who is the boss?"

But Cameron started laughing after telling Dorries that he knew she was "extremely frustrated".

Provoking MPs' schoolboy mirth at the hint of an innuendo to the female MP, the prime minister joked: "Maybe I should start all over again."

Pausing again, he finally said: "I'm going to give up on this one," and put his hand on the arm of an equally amused Clegg as he sat down next to his Lib Dem deputy.

Cameron's aides were keen to stress after the Commons session that his answer was meant to be a "lighthearted joke", but the interchange was seen by some to be fuelling accusations of sexism being alive and well in the chamber.

Some Labour sources said Cameron's approach smacked of a previous quip to shadow minister Angela Eagle last spring, in which he asked her to "calm down dear".

The PMQs interchange did not appear to amuse Dorries, who is spearheading an amendment in the health bill on abortion counselling on Wednesday afternoon which will see Clegg lead a number of Lib Dems and Conservative MPs into the no lobby.

The amendment – tabled with Frank Field, Labour's former welfare reform minister – seeks to stop non-statutory abortion providers, such as Marie Stopes, offering counselling to women.

The Department of Health announced last week that it would advise MPs to vote against proposals in a U-turn following an intervention from Downing Street.

Cameron, who was said to be initially sympathetic to the amendment, is not expected to attend the vote due to an appointment with Herman van Rompuy, president of the European council, No 10 confirmed.

Wednesday's vote on the amendment in the health and social care bill will be the first time parliament has voted on the highly sensitive issue of abortion since MPs voted to maintain the upper limit of 24 weeks in May 2008.