Even as the news of the hanging of the 31-year-old reporter was coming in, and despite public promises of firm action against what was clearly an increasingly dangerous dictator, cabinet ministers decided not to impose any sanctions.Trade or credit restrictions on Iraq would be “ineffective in influencing the attitude of the Iraqi government” and would inflict “disproportionate damage on UK industry”, Norman Lamont, a future chancellor but at that time the chief secretary to the Treasury, noted in a memo to foreign secretary Douglas Hurd, the files disclose.