DAVID Cameron’s office has defended a photograph in which the Prime Minister posed with a group of Morris dancers who had blacked up their faces.

The Witney MP posed for the picture with dancers at Banbury Folk Festival at the weekend.

The dancers were members of Worcestershire’s Foxs Morris, a troupe that paints their faces black.

The tradition, associated with Welsh borders Morris troupes, is thought to originate from the 19th century when beggars blackened their faces with soot to disguise themselves.

Mr Cameron, who lives in Dean, West Oxfordshire, was pictured holding his daughter Florence, surrounded by members of the group.

Black playwright Bonnie Greer posted the picture on Twitter, using the hashtag “jerk”.

But the PM’s office defended the photo.

Spokeswoman Natasha Whitmill said: “This troupe is very well known in the area, and everyone knows there is absolutely no racial connotation to their performance.

“They asked for a photograph and the Prime Minister, who is a neighbouring local MP, agreed.”

The folk festival organisers did not respond to a request for comment.

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