Khomeni gave a fatwa against Rusdie 19 years ago but British Goverment saw to it that he was not harmed why?

Now in the Muslim world all the clerics have started giving fatwas that Rushdie should die and any Muslim who kills him will be the most honoured amonst Muslim's as blashemy against the Holy prophet Mohammed and the punishment for that as ordered in the Holy Qoran is death even if Rushdie apologizes he has to die