POLITICIANS, businesses and the public were this morning taking stock of the news that George W Bush seemed likely to hold on to the White House.

Sir John Butterfill, Conservative MP for Bournemouth West, was among those welcoming President Bush's re-election.

He said: "This is probably the best outcome from the point of view of the United Kingdom in that there will be the continuation of policies that have been agreed between the United States and the United Kingdom. It's clearly necessary to continue a policy which allows free and fair elections to take place in Iraq with a view to supporting any new government in power until such time that they're able to take over all their own security arrangements.

"We'd all like to get our troops home as soon as possible. I think this is probably the best answer for the problems relating to Iraq and in President Bush we have a president who's known to be a good friend of the United Kingdom."

Desmond Swayne, Conservative MP for New Forest West, has served with the Territorial Army in Iraq.

He said: "The American people have made their choice and we have to live with it. I do hope, however, that the United States administration will start to take much greater notice of the expertise that we have in operations such as we're conducting in Iraq and I hope we will be more forceful in bringing that expertise and opinion to their notice.

"If you behave like poodles, people will treat you like poodles and we've just not had the clout in Baghdad to call the shots."

South Dorset's Labour MP Jim Knight is among those disappointed not to see John Kerry in the White House.

He said: "Whilst I do not welcome the re-election of President Bush, I am sure the prime minister would have wanted to work closely with whoever won the election in the States and I hope that he will press on with his priorities in foreign policy - on the Middle East, climate change and Africa - even though I'm more pessimistic of his chances of success as a result of Bush's re-election."

Malcolm Walby, director of Dorset Business, the county's chamber of commerce and industry, was concerned about the effect on business.

"We have a number of businesses who invest in America and a number of American businesses who invest in this country," said Mr Walby.

"I would say in the last two or three years there's been a general de-investment in this country and a general slowdown in the relationship between the two countries.

"I did find Bush generally to be a bit scary. I think we've got a number of clients around the world who are concerned at the American approach."

Bournemouth-based Palestinian technician Nezar Abu-Daff, 36, welcomed the result.

"I think the United States is going to split into 50 different countries under Bush like the Soviet Union broke down," he said."That will bring our dream one step nearer and that's what we're really hoping."

Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld, leader of Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation, said: "George Bush understands the problems of the State of Israel. Israel and the US are fighting a common enemy - Muslim fundamentalist terrorism - and there's no doubt that George W Bush has been the most supportive president in the history of the United States."

Charles Elder, head of public relations at Bournemouth University, is from Kansas. He hoped a Bush victory would ensure a better Democratic candidate next time.

"My theory is that he should win because in four years' time we'll have a much better presidential candidate in John Edwards than John Kerry," he said.

First published: November 3