January
Britain crept out of recession, with 0.1 per cent growth in the previous three months. Full-body scanners were to be introduced at British airports after a man tried to blow up a plane with explosives hidden in his underpants. Snow swept the land with the temperature falling to minus 22.3°C. An earthquake killed tens of thousands in Haiti and perhaps 1.5 million were made homeless. Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981, was released from prison in Turkey. Ali Hassan al-Majid, ‘Chemical Ali’, was hanged in Iraq. A British citizen was executed in China for smuggling 9lb of heroin. China said it had become the world’s biggest exporter.
February
Labour unveiled the slogan ‘A future fair for all’. Three Labour MPs and a Conservative peer were charged under the Theft Act 1968 over their expenses. Commander Ali Dizaei of the Met was sentenced to four years on charges of falsely arresting a man. Tony Blair gave evidence to the Iraq Inquiry. Sir John Dankworth died, aged 82. Dick Francis died, aged 89. Alexander McQueen hanged himself, aged 40. John Terry was sacked as England football captain. Gordon Brown forswore Kit-Kats in favour of nine bananas a day. The Scottish parliament made shopkeepers hide cigarettes by law. The number of British servicemen who had died in Afghanistan overtook the 255 killed in the Falklands. Nato and Afghan troops began an offensive in Helmand. The EU told Greece to cut its public sector pay bill; Greek public sector workers went on strike.
March
The Conservatives unveiled the slogan ‘Vote for change’. The EU gave protected origin status to Yorkshire rhubarb. Harry Carpenter died, aged 84. British Airways cabin crew went on strike. Barack Obama’s health-care bill was voted through. Iraq held elections. North Korea sank a South Korean vessel, killing 46.
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