Cameron warns of difficult year ahead

Britain faces a "difficult" year in 2011 as Government departments move to implement "incredibly difficult" cuts, David Cameron admitted yesterday.

In a sombre New Year's message the Prime Minister said there was a "lot of heavy lifting" to do to restore the country's finances. He also warned about the continuing threat from terrorism which he said was "as serious today as it ever has been". "We must ask ourselves how we are allowing the poisoning of the minds of some young British Muslims who sometimes carry out acts of sickening barbarity," he said.

Mr Cameron said his emphasis during 2011 would be on "enterprise, aspiration, public service reform and national security".

"These are the things that will determine whether in 2011 we take the steps towards the better, stronger, safer Britain," he added.