By the looks of things they’re not worried about it in Britain either.

(Egypt Independent) — The British government is not worried about an Islamist government in Egypt and believes such a government would adopt a realistic approach towards Israel, according to a senior UK diplomat.

Islamists are aware that they have to concentrate on fundamental issues, such as education, public sector pay, social inclusivity and public health, according to the diplomat.

“I find that a lot of the people we have been talking to who have got into parliament are well aware that those are the main challenges and if they do not get those right they will never be voted in again,” he added.

The UK has a long history with Egyptian and Arab Islamists, many of whom have been given political refugee status and the right to live permanently on British soil in recent decades. Most of those Islamists have good relations with the UK parliament, academic institutions and UK-based non-governmental organisations.

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood announced its political manifesto during a meeting in London for the first time on 27 October 2007.

The diplomat, who is a member of the team dealing with Egypt at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), hinted that it is “unfortunate” that secular parties feel aggrieved that Islamists took the lion’s share of parliamentary seats after the revolution. “The important thing is to have democracy. In a few years time the electorate will have the chance to vote for another mix of parliamentarians.”

UK policy makers are closely following Islamist statements and policies.

“I am not worried about Islamism. What I look for in a future government or parliament is the ability to take the courageous decisions needed  to reform and change some of the distortions which crept into the Egyptian economy in recent decades,”  the diplomat asserted. “The fundamental judgment on Islamists in parliament and government has to be based on their performance on the big issues facing the country.”