Cameron causes outrage by returning to Cornish holiday
Cameron isn't the only one: Obama plays golf while IS threatens to execute second journalist
David Cameron has outraged Middle England (in the shape of Daily Mail readers) by returning to his holiday in Cornwall this morning after spending barely 24 hours in Downing Street dealing with the atrocity of a British Islamic jihadist beheading an American journalist.
Cameron decided to rejoin his wife, Samantha, and their children in Polzeath for the coming Bank Holiday weekend as the hunt was launched for the hooded executioner– known as “John” and believed to be from London or the South East - who executed James Foley on camera in revenge for American attacks on Islamic State positions in Iraq.
The fact that the prime minister has upset Daily Mail readers is an issue: if he can't keep these voters on side, he has no chance of winning the May 2015 general election.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the flood of angry posts by Mail readers is this one: "Perception is everything... The perception is that he is not at the helm... The man does not seem to understand this simple fact…"
Another comment reads: "It doesn't matter if he's on holiday or not really. He's not going to tighten our borders, or do anything to weed out these Fruit Cakes from our society. His wishy-washy approach is pathetic!"
Some of the comments, of course, could have been posted by supporters of Ukip or disgruntled Tory MPs. But Cameron is risking real damage by flouting public opinion which appears to be hardening in favour of Britain supporting the US in attacking on the Islamic State fanatics.
Only days after boasting that he could run the country "by BlackBerry", the PM has left the impression that he only momentarily broke his holiday as a public relations stunt to show he is in charge.
The Sun ran the story under the mocking headline – stolen from The Mole, I might add - ‘We'll fight them on the beaches... after IS horror Cameron's back on holiday.’
Cameron's determination to look on the bright side, and not to let the world get him down, appears to be shared by Barack Obama.
Despite the IS threatening to decapitate another captured American journalist, Steven Sotloff, if Obama does not back down, the US President was pictured laughing as he bumped fists with Cyrus Walker, cousin of White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, while golfing on Martha's Vineyard.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How the Nobel Peace Prize is chosen
The Explainer This year's prize has gone to survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
All the presidential assassination attempts
In Depth American history is full of efforts to kill sitting and former presidents
By David Faris Published
-
Obamas fire up DNC, warn of hard fight against Trump
Speed Read Barack and Michelle Obama closed out the second night of the Democratic National Convention by praising Kamala Harris and mocking Donald Trump
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'The United States and other open societies must not be complacent'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published