The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger has pulled out of an event due to be hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron, after complaining that he was being used as a โ€œpolitical footballโ€.

Jagger was due to appear at the Davos Summit and attend a tea party at the Swiss resort as part of a campaign to promote Britain, where he would have appeared alongside other prominent figures from the UK, including the model Lily Cole and the inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

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However, the singer has now said he will not appear at the event as he felt that it would lead to โ€œa lot of commentโ€ about his political allegiances and that he wished to remain apolitical.

He said in a statement: โ€œDuring my career I have always eschewed party politics and came to Davos as a guest, as I thought it would be stimulating. I have always been interested in economics and world events. I now find myself being used as a political football and there has been a lot of comment about my political allegiances, which are inaccurate. I think itโ€™s best I decline the invitation to the key event and curtail my visit.โ€

A senior government source told The Guardian about Jaggerโ€™s decision: โ€œClearly we are disappointed that Sir Mick doesnโ€™t feel he can support a non-political event that promotes Britain.โ€

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They continued: โ€œAt no point was there ever any suggestion that Sir Mick was a Conservative. He understandably wishes to remain apolitical. This is not a political event. This is simply an event that promotes British creativity abroad.โ€