David Cameron has defended his refusal to launch an investigation into Jeremy Hunt – insisting the Culture Secretary acted "wisely and fairly" and had given "a good account of himself".

Mr Hunt held on to his job after Downing Street said his evidence to the Leveson Inquiry on Thursday showed he "acted properly" in his handling of the News Corporation bid for BSkyB.

However, the Prime Minister is under pressure to launch an investigation into claims his Cabinet colleague breached the ministerial code.

He also faces questions about his own judgment in appointing Mr Hunt to adjudicate on the proposed takeover despite knowing of his personal sympathies for the Murdoch media empire.

Despite the emergence, in evidence disclosed to Leveson, of pro-bid text messages sent by Mr Hunt on the day he was handed responsibility, Mr Cameron said he had acted properly.

"The advice I was given was that what mattered was not what Jeremy Hunt had said publicly or privately but how he was going to conduct himself during the bid," he said.

"That's how I think we should judge him: did he adjudicate this bid wisely and fairly?

"And he did. He took legal advice at every stage, and he followed that legal advice and he did many things that were not in the interests of the Murdochs or BSkyB.

"I think he gave a good account of himself to the Leveson Inquiry, he's given a good account of himself to Parliament, and I think that's the key point."

Labour is to use its opposition day debate on Wednesday, June 13 to demand that an inquiry into Mr Hunt's actions is launched by Sir Alex Allan, the Prime Minister's adviser on the ministerial code.