The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 22 June 2016

Sir Cliff Richard learns he will not be prosecuted over claims of historical sex abuse; world refugee numbers hit 65 million

issue 25 June 2016

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One week before the United Kingdom voted in a referendum on membership of the European Union, Jo Cox, a Labour MP and married mother of two, aged 41, died after being shot and stabbed at Birstall, West Yorkshire, on her way to a constituency surgery. A passer-by, Bernard Kenny, a retired miner aged 77, tried to protect her and was wounded. A constituent, Thomas Mair, aged 52, was charged with her murder and, on being asked his name in a magistrates’ court, said: ‘Death to traitors. Freedom for Britain.’ Parliament was recalled the following Monday so that tributes could be made.

The Crown Prosecution Service said that Sir Cliff Richard would face no further action over allegations of historical sex abuse, because of ‘insufficient evidence to prosecute’. ‘I was named before I was even interviewed and for me that was like being hung out like live bait,’ the singer said.

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