Cameron responds to Twitter mockery of phone photograph

David Cameron has laughed off mockery of a photograph of him on the telephone to Barack Obama.

The British prime minister posted the grim-faced image on Twitter on Wednesday evening, with the message: “I’ve been speaking to BarackObama about the situation in Ukraine. We are united in condemnation of Russia’s actions.”

But it was immediately ridiculed by other users on the social networking site, who replied with pictures of themselves clutching household objects and even animals to their ears.

Veteran British actor Sir Patrick Stewart was among those joining in the ribbing, using a tub of wet-wipes as a handset and saying: "I'm now patched in as well. Sorry for the delay."

US comedian Rob Delaney posed with a tube of toothpaste, writing: “Hi guys, I’m on the line now too. Get me up to speed.”

Mr Cameron made light of the reaction today, posting a message to Sir Patrick with a picture of him chatting to former US President Bill Clinton in Downing Street.

“Talking to another US President, this time face to face, not on the phone,” he wrote.

Mr Cameron was a late convert to Twitter, having once notoriously explained his unwillingness to join the site by saying “too many tweets make a tw**”.

PA