Blog: End of a tyrannical regime

With jubilant rebels swarming into the heart of Tripoli, Colonel Gaddafi's reign of terror in Libya today appears to be in its death throes.

Four decades after it was established, and six months after the world community finally decided enough was enough, the tyrannical leader's regime has disintegrated.

With two of his sons captured, and his compound surrounded by rebels, even the man who would do seemingly anything to cling to power has run out of options.

He will not be missed, and the world will be a better place without him.

Gaddafi is inextricably linked to some of the darkest days of Britain's modern-day history.

Remember, it was Tony Blair who effectively brought him back from the political wilderness when he was pictured shaking hands with the dictator.

And then Gordon Brown who allowed Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi to return to Libya a national hero. Two years after being released, allegedly on death's door, he is still a living symbol of his nation's inflammatory defiance.

Britain now has a chance to atone for these dark days by playing a key part in creating a brighter future for the Libyan people.

David Cameron must ensure our role over subsequent months is to support and encourage the people, but not to stray where we are not invited.

We must prove we have learned the lessons from the strategy in Iraq, and not behave like an arrogant colonial power seeking to preach a western doctrine to the Libyan people.

There are reasons for Shropshire drivers to celebrate, too, because the loosening of Gaddafi's stranglehold on Libya's precious oilfields looks certain to bring about a fall in petrol and diesel prices.