The Bedruthan Steps in Cornwall. Luckily, the prime minister was close to home when news of events in Tripoli arrived.

Cameron quits second holiday to head Libya meeting

Cameron quits second holiday to head Libya meeting

By Ian Dunt

David Cameron has once again returned home early from his holidays, as events in Libya forced him back to London.

It is the second time in a month that the prime minister has been forced to return unexpectedly from holiday, after the riots in London saw him eventually fly back to Downing Street.

"It is clear from the scenes we are witnessing in Tripoli that the end is near for Gaddafi," he said.

While he was widely criticised for failing to return home quickly enough last time, this decision will have been considerably more pleasant.

The sudden breakdown of Colonel Gaddafi's regime is Libya is a spectacular foreign policy victory for the coalition, which took a major gamble on the military action with memories of Iraq still to the forefront of many voters' thoughts.

The victory will be especially sweet given that the US took a backseat role in the mission, with the UK and France leading the operation.

It is also a personal vindication of the prime minister's decision to take a leading role convincing the UN Security Council to authorise Nato intervention in Libya.

The prime minister was holidaying substantially closer to home, in Cornwall, where he had promised to return after his youngest child was born there last year.

Mr Cameron will chair a National Security Council Meeting with Andrew Mitchell, international development secretary. Foreign secretary William Hague remains on holiday.