Tony Blair has questioned the value of democracy in the Middle East saying “effective government” is more important - amid reports that he is preparing to step down from his high-profile role as peace envoy to the region.

Speaking at a conference on economic development in Egypt this weekend, Mr Blair said: “Yes democracy is important, but democracy is not on its own sufficient. You also need efficacy. You need effective government taking effective decisions.” Praising Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who has been accused of serious human rights abuses since coming to power in 2013, Mr Blair continued: “I don’t think you have to be authoritarian, but you have to be direct.”

Mr Blair was appointed to provide economic advice to President Sisi in July last year. The former general seized power from President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013.

Tony Blair: A career of controversies Show all 11 1 /11 Tony Blair: A career of controversies Tony Blair: A career of controversies The Tony Blair 'selfie'.. A journalist takes a picture of Kennard Phillips 'Photo Op', depicting Prime Minister Tony Blair taking a 'selfie' in front of an explosion in Iraq, during a press viewing of the exhibition Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War Tony Blair: A career of controversies Protesters pictured outside the QEII Conference centre in London in 2011 as former British PM Tony Blair give his evidence in the Chilcot Iraq Inquiry Tony Blair: A career of controversies David Lawley-Wakelin, who disrupted Tony Blair’s testimony at the Leveson Inquiry by bursting into the court Tony Blair: A career of controversies Blair giving evidence Tony Blair: A career of controversies Tony Blair visiting troops in Iraq in 2007 Tony Blair: A career of controversies Blair meeting with troops in Basra, Iraq in 2003 Tony Blair: A career of controversies Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks to British soldiers at Divisional Headquaters in Basra, May 2007 Tony Blair: A career of controversies British Prime Minister Tony Blair eats dinner with British troops in Basra, Iraq, 21 December, 2004 Tony Blair: A career of controversies Syrian president Bashar El Assad during his official visit to the United Kingdom in 2002. Mr Blair tried to engage Mr Garcia in a conversation about Syria. The former Prime Minister made clear he was very much in favour of military intervention last summer. Tony Blair: A career of controversies Syrian president Bashar El Assad and wife Asma during their official visit to the United Kingdom in 2002. Mr Blair tried to engage Mr Garcia in a conversation about Syria Tony Blair: A career of controversies Former Prime Minister Tony Blair's signature adorns a program he signed for an Iraq veteran during a reception at the Guildhall in London following the service of commemoration at St Paul's Cathedral honouring UK military and civilian personnel who served in Iraq

An Amnesty International report, also published in July last year, reported “a surge in arbitrary arrests, detentions and harrowing incidents of torture and deaths in police custody” in Egypt under Sisi.

Tonight it was reported that Mr Blair is preparing to step back from his controversial diplomatic role as peace envoy for the Quartet Middle East Peace Negotiators.

The former prime minister has apparently recognised that his poor relations with senior Palestinian Authority figures and wide ranging business interests mean his frontline role is no longer viable.

The Financial Times claimed that Mr Blair had met John Kerry, the US secretary of state, to discuss a potential job change. One senior diplomat told the newspaper: “It is long overdue. He has been ineffective in this job. He has no credibility in this part of the world.”