Showing posts with label Cameron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cameron. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

VIDEO: Cameron reaction to Bin Laden death

2 May 2011 Last updated at 06:35 GMT Help

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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Cameron NHS comments 'misleading'

28 April 2011 Last updated at 19:45 Ex-Labour MP Dr Howard Stoate Dr Stoate said there were "inherent problems" with the proposed NHS shake-up An ex-Labour MP who David Cameron claimed supported his health reforms has accused the prime minister of using the NHS as a "political football".

Dr Howard Stoate said his views about GPs powers were "taken out of context".

He was at the centre of a political row on Wednesday after Mr Cameron told Labour MP Angela Eagle "to calm down dear" at Prime Minister's Questions.

He made the comment after Ms Eagle sought to correct remarks he made about Dr Stoate in the Commons.

The clash came after Mr Cameron used comments by Dr Stoate, a practising GP, to defend his controverisal plans to introduce GP commissioning in the NHS in England - plans opposed by doctors and nurses' groups.

Dr Stoate, who stepped down at last year's general election, had previously written that discussions with his colleagues revealed "overwhelming enthusiasm for the chance to help shape services for the patients they see daily".

'Condescending'

But Mr Cameron's suggestion that Dr Stoate had been beaten during the election angered some on the Labour benches, including Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Angela Eagle.

Amid shouts of "he stood down", Mr Cameron paraphrased the famous car insurance advert starring film director Michael Winner, telling her: "Calm down dear, calm down, calm down."

Labour accused Mr Cameron of sexism and showing a "patronising and outdated attitude to women".

Continue reading the main story
The prime minister should stop using the health service as a political football and allow GPs to get on with the job of improving health services”

End Quote Dr Howard Stoate Former Labour MP Writing in the Guardian, Dr Stoate said the PM's remark to Ms Eagle had been "condescending". But he said he was more concerned that the impression the PM gave about his views on the proposed shake-up of the NHS was "entirely misleading".

He said his previous comments had referred merely to GPs in his local area of south London - not nationally - and that they had had a "head start" over others as they had gained experience of commissioning health services over the past four years.

The government's proposed NHS changes - which ministers are currently consulting on as part of a "listening exercise" with medical professionals - had many "inherent problems", he said.

"The prime minister should stop using the health service as a political football and allow GPs to get on with the job of improving health services," he wrote.

"Indeed, the current focus on GPs is a continuation of the progress made under the Labour government's programme of GP commissioning."

'Modernised'

Critics have said there is little evidence that handing lead responsibility for commissioning to GP consortia will work, that there is too much financial risk involved and the plans should be piloted and not introduced in one go.

Dr Stoate said he continued to believe GPs were "best placed" to break down institutional barriers in the NHS and ensure the highest standards of patient care.

"GPs are increasingly becoming involved in discussing budgets, local healthcare needs, service planning and delivery - resulting in dramatic improvements in services as antiquated ways of working are modernised," he added.

Mr Cameron sought to make light of the "calm down dear" comment - which No 10 has said was a "humorous remark" and should not be "over-analysed" - during a campaign visit to Wales on Thursday.

"I don't know what it is about some people on the left. It seems that when they put the socialism in, they take the sense of humour out," he told Conservative activists.

Ministers have said they are prepared to make major changes to the NHS legislation following the extended consultation, but stressed the NHS cannot be allowed to stand still in the face of rising costs pressure and higher patients' expectations.

David Cameron has accused Labour of "scaring" people about the impact of the proposed changes and said GP fund-holding practices in "90% of the country" want to see the changes succeed.


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Monday, April 25, 2011

Clegg criticises Cameron over AV

24 April 2011 Last updated at 06:33 GMT Nick Clegg Nick Clegg said he hoped the No campaign was the death-rattle of a right-wing elite Nick Clegg has launched a harsh attack on David Cameron over his opposition to changing the voting system.

In an interview with the Independent on Sunday, he accused the prime minister of "defending the indefensible".

The deputy prime minister described those pressing for a "No" vote in the referendum on the alternative vote system as a "right-wing clique".

Meanwhile, former Tory leader Lord Howard has said the Yes campaign is getting "desperate".

'Lashing out'

In his most outspoken language yet, Mr Clegg said the No campaign was built on "lies, misinformation and deceit".

"This nasty No campaign, I hope, will prove to be the death rattle of a right-wing elite, a right-wing clique who want to keep things the way they are. That's why they are lashing out."

Asked if he was referring to the prime minister, Mr Clegg responded: "Look, I include all those, and of course it includes the Conservative Party, who like this nice little racket: they get a job for life and they waft into power and they don't even need to bother try to get a majority of people on side."

Mr Clegg contrasted the supporters of AV - including the leaders of the Labour Party, Green Party, Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and UK Independence Party - with its opponents.

'Reactionary interests'

He said: "The other side, you'd have David Cameron, [British National Party leader] Nick Griffin and whoever leads the Communist Party.

Continue reading the main story

At the moment MPs are elected by the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate getting the most votes in a constituency is elected.

On 5 May all registered UK voters will be able to vote Yes or No on whether to change the way MPs are elected to the Alternative Vote system.

Under the Alternative Vote system, voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.

Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected.

If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers' second choices allocated to those remaining.

This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes in that round.

"Now that tells you volumes about the very reactionary interests that are defending the indefensible".

Mr Clegg also referred to Mr Cameron's sharing of a campaign platform with Labour former home secretary Lord Reid.

"When Conservatives team up with a man as reactionary and backward-looking as John Reid, you know that the old establishment, the old elite, are just thrashing around," he said.

Disputed claims

A source close to Mr Clegg said he was not accusing Mr Cameron himself of lying.

But Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has written to George Osborne accusing him of untruths.

Mr Huhne called on the chancellor to withdraw claims that a change to the voting system would make elections more expensive, which he described as a "completely unfounded charge".

"I explicitly warned you the manner of the AV campaign would be as important as the result in the effects on the coalition. Robust debate is normal in British politics. Persistent resort to falsehoods is not," his letter to the chancellor states.

Lord Howard said the Liberal Democrats, arguing for a new system, were "realising they are losing the main arguments".

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, he said: "I do think it is remarkable and disappointing that, as the campaign enters its final stages, the Yes group is spending all its time talking about the internal politics of the campaign.

"They are desperate. I don't take anything for granted and it is important we get our vote out, but every opinion poll now seems to show a bigger margin in favour of No than the last one."

A referendum on 5 May will ask British voters whether they want to switch to the alternative vote, where voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Westminster MPs are currently elected through the first-past-the-post system.


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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Cameron promises immigration cut

14 April 2011 Last updated at 01:12 GMT Airport arrivals The government wants to cut immigration to "tens of thousands" a year David Cameron is to "promise" the UK will reduce the level of immigration to "1980s' levels" as a result of government measures.

But in a speech later, the prime minister will also say the country will "always be open to the best and brightest from around the world".

He will argue the government has a "sober, comprehensive and effective plan to cut immigration".

Labour accused ministers of "not delivering" on immigration.

Ministers have introduced tighter caps on the number of non-EU migrants, saying the government wants to cut the overall limit from about 200,000 to "tens of thousands" by 2015.

This is being split into monthly allocations, with a total of 4,200 available for April and 1,500 each month after that.

'Bogus colleges'

Non-European Union workers earning more than £150,000 a year are to be excluded from the cap.

Scientists will also be given "a significant advantage" in coming to the UK, as firms attempt to fill jobs where there are staff shortages.

In a speech outlining the government's policy, Mr Cameron will say: "What we don't want is for this to be a hugely attractive destination for people who only want a passage to Britain.

"So we are cracking down on the abuses of the system."

He will promise to tackle "bogus colleges, providing bogus qualifications as cover for bogus visas".

Continue reading the main story
He has made very big promises about the level of net migration he will achieve - but he hasn't set out workable, transparent policies to deliver it”

End Quote Yvette Cooper Shadow home secretary Mr Cameron will call for a "sober" debate, which is "clear-headed about not only the benefits of immigration but also its impact on our public services, communities and society".

He will add: "This time last year, we said we would listen to people's concerns and get immigration under control.

"Today I can confidently say that we are getting there.

"If we take the steps set out today, and deal with all the different avenues of migration, legal and illegal, then levels of immigration can return to where they were in the 1980s and 90s, a time when immigration was not a front-rank political issue.

Under control

"And I believe that will mean net migration to this country will be in the order of tens of thousands each year, not the hundreds of thousands every year that we have seen over the last decade.

"Yes, Britain will always be open to the best and brightest from around the world and those fleeing persecution.

"But with us, our borders will be under control and immigration will be at levels our country can manage.

"No ifs. No buts. That's a promise we made to the British people. And it's a promise we are keeping."

But Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused the prime minister of "not being straight with people".

Ms Cooper said: "His two flagship policies were the immigration cap and a UK Border Police Force.

"Yet the cap only applies to 20% of non-EU migrants, and instead of creating a border police he has cut the UK Border Agency by 5,000 staff.

"And whilst he is cutting one set of student visas, he is simply expanding another - student visitor visas - which he won't count in the net migration figures.

"He has made very big promises about the level of net migration he will achieve - but he hasn't set out workable, transparent policies to deliver it."


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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Cameron rallies Tory campaigners

11 April 2011 Last updated at 17:26 GMT David Cameron: Conservative Party is "committed" to the north west of England

David Cameron has attacked Labour-run councils in a speech to Conservative activists in Manchester ahead of the local elections.

The Conservative leader accused them of extravagant spending and claimed "pen pushers" in some local authorities were Royal Wedding street parties.

Labour leader Ed Miliband says his party will be the "first line of defence" against cuts.

Local elections will be held across England on 5 May.

More than 9,500 council seats will be contested in 279 local authorities across England, on the same day as devolved elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and a referendum on the future of the UK electoral system.

Mr Cameron opened his speech by accusing Labour of having failed to create jobs in the north of England: "I'm fed up with hearing the same old myth from Labour - the idea that somehow the Conservative Party isn't committed to the North West.

'Danger zone'

"One of the great scandals of the Labour years - for every 10 jobs created by businesses in the south - just one job was created in the whole of the North and the Midlands. That is Labour's legacy to the North West."

Continue reading the main story image of Carole Walker Carole Walker Pollitical correspondent, BBC News

At an arts centre just down the road from Old Trafford football ground, David Cameron had words of praise for the local Tory mayor, who has sold off his personalised number plate.

He compared Tory-controlled Trafford Council's efforts to cut waste with Labour-controlled Manchester City Council's decision to pay its chief executive £70,000 more than the prime minister's salary.

Mr Cameron's message was that Tory councils are delivering better value for money and protecting frontline services while charging lower council tax than their Labour counterparts.

The PM has come under pressure from Tory MPs and activists to do more to sell the Conservative message.

He plans on spending up to three days a week from now until polling day visiting different parts of the country mobilising supporters and rallying voters.

Mr Cameron knows many voters will blame his government for the cuts to local services, but he says Labour must also shoulder some of the blame because of its handling of the economy over 13 years in power.

With local councils having to make big savings, Tory strategists are braced for an uphill struggle, with some analysts predicting they will lose up to 1,000 councillors on 5 May.

He said the government was backing a series of projects including the Mersey Gateway, funding the electrification of rail lines between Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and Blackpool and investing £100m in science investment projects and said the party planned to "drive growth" in the North West.

The Conservative leader said spending cuts should be kept "in perspective" and under Labour he said there would have been higher interest rates, less investment and fewer jobs and repeated his claim that the government had lifted Britain "out of the danger zone".

"Labour didn't so much run our country, as run our country into the ground and once again it has fallen to this party to come in, to clear up the mess and to give our country the leadership she needs."

And he targeted Labour-majority councils over their approach to spending cuts - and the Royal Wedding.

He accused Manchester City Council, which is cutting 2,000 jobs over the next year, of spending too much on their chief executive and going on a "jolly to the south of France" - while praising Conservative-run Trafford Council for saving millions of pounds on "back office" costs and by axing "vanity projects".

"If you want lower levels of council tax and good value for money from your council, if you want to make sure money gets to the front line services, vote Conservative on May 5."

"Don't let Labour do to your local council what they did to our country."

The council has rejected the idea it is wasteful and says £55m of efficiency savings have been made over the past two years and it plans to make a further £96m in the next two. It also says back office services face cuts of 35% - in a move to protect frontline services as far as possible.

And Labour leader Ed Miliband has said his party's election message will be built around "we will be your voice in tough times" - arguing reductions in councils' spending power will hit the poorest areas the hardest and pledging to be the "first line of defence" against government spending cuts.

At his local election launch, Mr Miliband said: "Cuts designed by David Cameron and Nick Clegg are coming direct from Downing Street to your street,"

But Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday that it was a "complete caricature" to suggest he did not care about public services and said no government could have preceded without making cuts to tackle the budget deficit: "Labour's own deficit reduction plan requires £14bn of cuts to start this month, we are introducing £16bn of cuts."

'Ridiculous'

He added: "I think when people see by the end of this Parliament that we have done things which were controversial but were necessary in order to set things back on the right track I think people will recognise that we did things with the very best interests of the country at heart."

Mr Cameron also criticised various Labour councils over their handling of street parties to celebrate the Royal Wedding on 29 April - including reports that one had tried to ban music and bouncy castles and another had told one party organiser he would have to "stump up for £5m of public liability insurance".

"This is ridiculous. These pen pushers and busy bodies are completely wrong, they have no right to stop you from having fun and let me put it like this: I'm the prime minister and I'm telling you: If you want to have a street party you go ahead and have one."

Figures released at the close of nominations last week suggest the Lib Dems will see a drop in the number of councillors they are fielding in England - from 63% of seats in 2007 to 59% on 5 May. The Conservatives will contest 93.6% - up from 88.3% while Labour also saw an increase in candidates - notably in the south of the country - from around 60% to more than 71%.


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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Cameron in Libya response apology

24 February 2011 Last updated at 11:09 GMT David Cameron David Cameron said he was "extremely sorry" for the delay in evacuating Britons from Libya Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is "extremely sorry" for the government's handling of the evacuation of British nationals from Libya.

He said it had not been an easy situation and ministers needed to "learn the lessons".

It follows criticism of the government's response to the crisis.

A plane chartered by oil companies for employees, with 78 passengers, has arrived at Gatwick and a government-chartered flight has also left Libya.

The prime minister said: "Of course I am extremely sorry. They have had a difficult time. The conditions at the airport have been extremely poor."

A flight chartered by oil companies arrived at Gatwick at about 0715 GMT.

The airport said the plane carried 78 passengers. Earlier reports suggested more people had been on board.

A government-chartered flight, which left Tripoli at 0745 GMT, is now on its way back to the UK with a stop-over in Malta.

It is expected to land in the UK in the early evening.

British nationals have started to arrive home from protest-hit Libya

A RAF Hercules C130 aircraft is also expected to return to the UK later with dozens of passengers. A second military plane is on standby in Malta if needed.

The Foreign Office said "a number of additional planes" could be sent to Libya throughout the day.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Royal Navy frigate HMS Cumberland is now at the entrance to the harbour in Benghazi.

It will help with the evacuation process if needed.

A meeting of Cobra, the government's emergency planning committee, is being chaired by Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Helena Sheehan, 66, one of the passengers who landed at Gatwick earlier, said she had just experienced "some of the worst hours of her life".

"Libya is descending into hell," she said.

"The airport is like nothing I've ever seen in my whole life. It's absolute chaos. There's just thousands and thousands of people trying to get out."

The British Red Cross has deployed a team of volunteers to Gatwick airport to provide support to Britons being evacuated.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said an SAS contingent has been put on standby for emergency deployment to parts of Libya, backed up by paratroopers of the Special Forces Support Group.

Our correspondent said: "With the situation for some British nationals in Libya fast deteriorating, it's part of a range of options being considered by the government to rescue those stranded in the North African country.

"Exact numbers and the locations of any staging areas are being kept secret but it's a scenario that British Special Forces have trained hard for - landing in the midst of a dangerous and chaotic situation then securing the safe passage out of stranded Britons, all hopefully without a shot being fired."

Several other countries, including France, Russia and the Netherlands have already evacuated some of their citizens.

UK nationals wishing to register an interest in flights out of Libya should call the following numbers: 020 7008 0000 from the UK or 021 3403644/45 from Libya.

The Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to Libya.

Around 3,500 Britons had been living in Libya before the crisis but most of those are thought to have left in recent days.

A woman is emotional as her husband arrives on a flight from Tripoli that was chartered by oil companies Passengers landing at Gatwick expressed relief to have left Libya

However, there is particular concern for some British oil workers thought to be stranded in isolated desert camps.

They are struggling to make contact because the phone networks have been disrupted and their supplies of food and water from Libyan cities are running out.

"Some we know have been subjected to attacks and looting. They are in a perilous and frightening situation," said Mr Hague.

After a week of upheaval in Libya, protesters backed by defecting army units are thought to have almost the entire eastern half of Libya under their control.

The country's beleaguered leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who has been in power for 42 years, has vowed to fight to his "last drop of blood" rather than leave the country.

Earlier, Mr Hague told the BBC the "odds were stacking up" against Col Gaddafi, adding: "We have a government, or the remnant of a government, here which is prepared to use force and violence against its own people."

He said the Libyan leadership will be "held to account" for crimes against its people.


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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Cameron opens contracts to SMEs

11 February 2011 Last updated at 20:06 GMT David Cameron David Cameron said the measures would reduce the deficit by tackling waste David Cameron has announced a series of measures to help small and medium-sized firms compete for billions of pounds worth of central government contracts.

He said the aim was to give businesses greater access to the bidding process by eliminating "excessive bureaucracy and petty regulation".

Firms should no longer have to input their information each time they apply for a new contract, for example.

The CBI, however, said the government could have gone much further.

"This is a welcome package of measures," said Susan Anderson, the business body's director for public services, "but it could be much more radical by opening up all government contracts and public services to a range of innovative and expert providers."

'Oligopoly' Continue reading the main story John Moylan Business correspondent, BBC News

This week's long-awaited deal with banks, Project Merlin had specific lending committments for SMEs. The sector was also at the heart of Wednesday's Trade White Paper. Now it is in the spotlight again as the government opens up procurement.

The focus is deliberate - the small business sector is where the government hopes to see growth. What's more, despite accounting for 50% of the turnover of the UK business economy, SMEs only win 5-10% of the billions of pounds of public sector work.

The plans could certainly give fledgeling firms a leg up. David Cameron mentioned the case of Autonomy, the British technology firm. He said its founder Mike Lynch said that the reason it is a massive global success story is because one maverick government contracts manager defied the rules and gave him a tender.

But will the measures really deliver for taxpayers? And given the government doesn't know how much work is currently done by SMEs, quanitfying how well it is all going won't be easy.

The measures also include a new Contracts Finder website, which will feature all public sector contracts worth more than £10,000, to try to give business an an easier way to locate them.

Pre-qualification questions for central government contracts under £100,000 will also be elimated, the Cabinet Office said.

Launching the initiative, the Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude, said they would end the "procurement oligopoly" where small businesses were effectively shut out from the bidding process for Westminster contracts by red tape and over regulation.

It is hoped the measures will also help charities and voluntary organisations bid for work.

David Cameron told representatives from small and medium sized firms that the measures should also help the UK economy.

"We need to make the system more open, competitive and transparent. It's important for getting to grips with our deficit," the prime minister said.

The TUC, however, sounded a note of caution on this point: "Simply offering public sector services to any private sector firm willing to provide them at the lowest cost will open up the NHS and other valued public services to cowboy operators, and mean lower wages and worse conditions for thousands of low paid workers."

The Scottish government, launched it's Public Contracts Scotland procurement website two years ago.

It said that it had been a success and revealed that it had so far registered 50,000 members.

"It is enabling the delivery of improved public services at a reduced cost, and having a direct positive impact on the Scottish economy," said Finance Secretary John Swinney.

"It has introduced a level of transparency and functionality that is unparalleled across Europe."

'Long overdue'

The UK government's new approach received a positive response from bodies representing smaller businesses.

"If our businesses are to generate the jobs and growth necessary to sustain a recovery, then it is only right the government should be looking to award contracts to smaller firms," said Dr Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce.

The Institue of Directors said the changes were "long overdue", but questioned whether the culture in Whitehall would change sufficiently.

"It remains to be seen whether today's changes will benefit small businesses or whether risk-averse bureaucrats will soldier on with safe choices of big brands," said the IOD's Alexander Ehmann.

The Federation of Small Businesses recently called on the Ministry of Defence to overhaul how it manages its procurement process after releasing a report which suggested small businesses were at a "significant disadvantage" when bidding for defence contracts.

It said that 90% of defence exports are won by the 20 largest UK companies.


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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Cameron hails 'Egypt opportunity'

11 February 2011 Last updated at 23:49 GMT David Cameron: ''This is Egypt's moment of opportunity"

Egypt has a "precious moment of opportunity" to move towards "civilian and democratic rule", Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

His comments followed the resignation of Hosni Mubarak as Egypt's president after 18 days of protests.

Mr Cameron said the UK was a friend of Egypt and stood ready to "help in any way that we can".

Amnesty International is arranging a "day of solidarity" with the Egyptian people in central London on Saturday.

Also in London there were celebrations at the Egyptian embassy in Mayfair and at the heart of the Arab community around Edgware Road.

'First step'

Speaking on the steps of Downing Street, Mr Cameron said Egypt's new government should start to put in place "the building blocks of a truly open, free and democratic society".

Mr Cameron said: "What has happened today should only be the first step.

"Those who now run Egypt have a duty to reflect the wishes of the Egyptian people and, in particular, there really must be a move to civilian and democratic rule as part of this important transition to an open, democratic and free Egypt."

Continue reading the main story
This is good not only for Egypt, the Middle East and democracy but also for the West”

End Quote Ahmed El-Mokadem British Egyptian Society Labour leader Ed Miliband said the protesters had "won a famous victory".

He offered his congratulations before adding: "Now the task must be to create that democratic future that people have today won."

Announcing Mr Mubarak's resignation, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said the president had handed power to the army.

Foreign Secretary William Hague called on Egyptians to settle their differences peacefully.

"The Higher Council of the Military Forces has a particular responsibility to implement the concrete and irrevocable steps this transition requires and to prepare for free and fair elections," he said.

The Amnesty event in Trafalgar Square had been intended as a show of support for the protesters in Egypt but following Mr Mubarak's departure organisers say there will now be "some celebratory aspects".

Speakers include human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger, and a big-screen television link is planned with Tahrir Square which was at the centre of the demonstrations in Cairo.

'Shining example'

In London, Amr El-Bayoumi, 45, an Egyptian international lawyer, said he was "elated" to hear of Mr Mubarak's resignation.

He said: "My head is raised high because of my fellow Egyptians who have proved the power of the people in fighting for their rights and bringing down a brutal dictator who has been supported for decades by the US.

"We have seen a shining example for the world to see true democracy and true power to the people."

Celebrations outside the Egyptian embassy in London Celebrations have been taking place outside the Egyptian embassy in London

However, Mr El-Bayoumi, who recently returned from two weeks of protests in Cairo and planned to fly back to his native country on Saturday, added that Egyptians have "so much work to do to rebuild the country".

"Obviously, we need to see who will take power. We have a lot of work to do to get our society back from this ugly corruption and ugly brutality."

Ahmed El-Mokadem, founder and patron of the British Egyptian Society, said he was "delighted" that Mr Mubarak has resigned.

He said the Egyptian people had "lost confidence" during Mr Mubarak's tenure as president, which had halted the country's development.

Mr El-Mokadem said: "This is good not only for Egypt, the Middle East and democracy but also for the West. The West should not be worried at all because a developed Egypt that is not corrupt will only have one ally and that will be the West."

Mr El-Mokadem said his only fear was that the army could take control.

However, he added that this was only a "slight concern" because the army had been involved "from the bottom up" by helping protesters to force the president to step down.

Missing Briton

Earlier, the UK Foreign Office has said it is "deeply concerned" about a Briton missing in Egypt.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said Hisham Morsi was last seen being removed from Tahrir Square on 31 January but it is unclear by whom and authorities have been asked whether they are holding him.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Hisham Morsi is the only British national that we are aware of who is missing at the moment."

Mr Morsi, who is of dual British and Egyptian nationality, is understood to be aged about 50 and based outside the UK, "probably in Cairo".


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