Glenn Tilbrook: Lead singer of Squeeze explains why he shamed David Cameron on The Andrew Marr show

Mr Tilbrook said he would not be able to 'look myself in the eye if I didn’t take this opportunity'

Squeeze changed the lyrics to their new single 'Cradle to the Grave' (BBC)

The singer who embarrassed David Cameron live on the Andrew Marr Show by changing lyrics to a song to criticise Tory policy has revealed he decided to do so just 10 minutes beforehand.

Glenn Tilbrook, lead singer of veteran rock band Squeeze, said he had initially dismissed the idea of making a political stunt when he realised he would be singing in front of the Prime Minister on the flagship Sunday morning TV show.

But he changed his mind after listening to Mr Cameron announce plans to demolish more than 100 council house estates that he claimed was “entrenching poverty in Britain” through gang culture and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Tilbrook said he would not be able to “look myself in the eye if I didn’t take this opportunity” so changed the third verse of the band’s new single, "Cradle to the Grave", to sing: “I grew up in council housing,

Part of what made Britain great,

There are some here who are hellbent,

On the destruction of the welfare state."

Explaining in an article for the Guardian why he decided to make the last-minute changes, Mr Tilbrook wrote: “Just 10 minutes or so before we went on, I was listening to the interview he gave to Marr and he was talking about his housing policy.

“And I felt: “I have to say something. I couldn’t look myself in the eye if I didn’t take this opportunity.” I didn’t tell anybody what I was going to do – I didn’t want to make anyone else nervous. But I just knew I’d hate myself if I didn’t say something.”