David Cameron Vows 1,000 Infrastructure Jobs; May Cut Aid to Commonwealth for Anti-Gay Abuses

In accordance with promises to kickstart infrastructure projects and revive the economy, British Prime Minister David Cameron has given the thumbs-up for two power plants in Yorkshire, which should create 1,000 construction-related jobs, the BBC reported.

Cameron has urged colleagues, at home and abroad, to avoid talking down domestic and global economic prospects. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced the names of companies in England that will benefit from the final installment of £950 million from the regional growth fund.

Writing in the Financial Times on Monday, Cameron said pessimism and fear can become self-fulfilling prophecies in global markets.

"At the G20 I'll be making the argument that inward-looking, beggar-my-neighbor policies benefit no one," said Cameron, in the article, as quoted by Reuters.

Meanwhile, in a strong move to recognize gay rights, Britain will contemplate withholding aid from countries that do not reform laws criminalising homosexuality. Cameron raised the issue at the Commonwealth leaders' summit in Perth, Australia, but the meeting failed to adopt a recommendation ending the ban on homosexuality among its member nations.

"Britain is now one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights, and that includes how people treat gay and lesbian people," Cameron told the BBC. "British aid should have more strings attached, in terms of do you persecute people for their faith or their Christianity, or do you persecute people for their sexuality. We don't think that's acceptable.

"This is an issue where we are pushing for movement. We are prepared to put some money behind what we believe. But I'm afraid that you can't expect countries to change overnight. ... We are saying that is one of the things that determines our aid policy, and there have been particularly bad examples where we have taken action," said Cameron. He also said dialogues had taken place with "a number of African countries," with Foreign Secretary William Hague instrumental in this regard.

"We've been raising the issue consistently, we've been raising it here at this Commonwealth heads of government (summit)," the BBC quoted Cameron as saying.

While demanding results, Cameron also said, at the close of the summit in Perth, countries would need assistance and help during their cautious "journey".

"They are in a different place from us on this issue. ... I think these countries are all on a journey and it's up to us to try and help them along on that journey," said the prime minister.