Downing Street criticised over Jeremy Clarkson YouTube film » Central government » 24dash.com

Downing Street was accused of wasting taxpayers' money today by making a joke film in response to a petition.

The 55-second clip was created after nearly 50,000 people backed a call for Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson to be made Prime Minister.

Posted on Downing Street's YouTube site, it thanks everyone who signed the online petition, and says officials have "thought long and hard" about the suggestion.

The camera then pans up the famous Downing Street steps, where there are photographs of former PMs, before focusing on an image of Mr Clarkson.

The final message reads: "But on second thoughts... maybe not."

A Conservative Party spokesman insisted the Government had become "detached" from reality.

"While the British public is having to tighten its belts, the Government is spending taxpayers' money on a completely frivolous project," he said.

"This shows how detached the Labour Party has become from the concerns of the British people."

But a Downing Street spokesman stressed the film was a joke, and had not cost any extra money to make.

"It was a pretty light-hearted petition, so we gave it a light-hearted answer. A member of staff put it together in a spare half-hour."