David Cameron has proved it is possible to be 40 and fashionable - having been voted the second best dressed male by GQ magazine.

The Tory leader and Witney MP has moved up three places in the chart this year and was only kept off the top spot by sharp-suited James Bond star Daniel Craig.

But Mr Cameron can take pride in the fact he is apparently more stylish than David Beckham and film star Clive Owen.

The poll follows last year's which ranked the father-of-three as New Woman magazine's 92nd sexiest man in the world - beating Russell Crowe, singer James Blunt and chef Gordon Ramsay.

GQ, which featured him on its cover last year, praised him as "a politician who understands the news agenda is set as much by appearance as it is by words".

Charlie Porter, the magazine's associate editor, said: "He is smart, young and dashing. He always wears a good suit - nothing outrageous.

"His look is very classic, but modern. It sends out a clear consistent message. I think he intends to appeal to as many people as possible."

Men's style bible GQ's annual list of stylish and less stylish celebrities is voted on by hundreds of fashion industry experts, designers and celebrities.

But some find the politician's style boring - perhaps the reason why Mr Cameron also made it to number six in the worst dressed male league - although this was a vast improvement from his number one ranking last year.

The MP will be pleased to find he is well ahead of arch political rival Gordon Brown in the poorly-dressed polls. The Chancellor came in four places ahead of Mr Cameron at number two.

Ex Banbury College fashion student Natalie Holden said of Mr Cameron: "He looks quite 'Oxford'. He's very proper and not particularly trendy. I don't think he's the type to pull off Converse trainers."

Television's Jeremy Clarkson, who lives in Chipping Norton, strutted in at the tenth worst dressed male, an improvement on last year's number six place and well ahead of comedian Russell Brand, who features at number one.

Mr Porter said: "Clarkson doesn't care and makes a point of it. His tight trousered, belted with-the-belly-overhanging look, is a bit of a signature for him."