The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 2 October 2014

issue 04 October 2014

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The Commons, having been specially recalled, passed, by 524 votes to 43, a motion supporting ‘the use of UK air strikes to support Iraqi, including Kurdish, security forces’ efforts against Isil in Iraq’. Only after four days did RAF Tornados from Akrotiri in Cyprus find some targets in Iraq to bomb. In support of her contention that Isil’s ‘hateful ideology has nothing to do with Islam’, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, in a well-received speech at the Conservative party conference, quoted the Qu’ran: ‘Let there be no compulsion in religion’ (Sura 2:256). A poster intended for staff was put up by mistake in the window of a Sainsbury’s in east London, reading: ‘Let’s encourage every customer to spend an additional 50p during each shopping trip.’

David Cameron, the Prime Minister, told the Conservative party conference that spending on the NHS would be ring-fenced and increased.

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