Capital punishment for murder was abolished in the UK in 1969. Recent polls show 50-55% of Britons support its return for some crimes, with higher support among Reform UK and Conservative voters. A parliamentary petition calling for a referendum on the death penalty for treason, murder, rape and terrorism closes today with under 1,000 signatures, while Reform MP Lee Anderson has called for one despite opposition from Nigel Farage.
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32 Opinions
Yes we are the citizens of our nation and absolutely have a right to vote on major issues such as the death penalty especially in very serious cases.
There are limits to direct democracy, e.g. we don't use referenda to decide if minorities deserve human rights. It might be viscerally satisfying to "hang all the paedos and granny-murderers" and a populist campaign would probably pass on that basis. But it would create greater costs in terms of appeals, will lead to people being wrongfully killed, and wouldn't actually create a deterrent. If you doubt me look at the US with a much higher murder rate, despite executions.
I voted No because politicians know how the majority feel. As referenda are advisory only . The money wasted might go a long way to getting steel produced again in the UK
Capital punishment is among act that satisfies mob anger. It solves nothing and it absolutely isn't a deterrent. If it was nobody who was executed in the past would committed their crime. Plus you can't un execute someone when you're wrong.
We got rid of capital punishment specifically because we kept hanging the wrong people.
I probably wouldn't vote in favour of capital punishment, but it is clearly a contested issue not aligned with party politics so a referendum may be the best way forward.
A civilised society must behave better than the worst and most base of its members. If someone murdered my loved ones, I'd personally want the death penalty for the perpetrator due to sheer emotion and desire for revenge. This doesn't mean that society has the right to take life, despite advancements in DNA testing almost eliminating the miscarriage of justice risk. I just don't want to live somewhere where the state's instrument of justice can take a human life.
NO Because we don't need to be constantly doing referendums for this that & the other, it gives whoever is in power the opportunity to duck responsible. We elect a government to govern that's what it should do. If it doesn't do that to your satisfaction, vote for someone else next time who will..
I am actually shocked that I would consider this. I always thought it was a no-brainier, but as society has declined, I have often wondered if the deterrents are no longer fit for purpose. I'm not sure how I would vote in a referendum, but I'm open to having the discussion across the nations.
It's a difficult one. I voted yes, purely because I'd like a say, but I think in a referendum on this subject would be very emotive and shouldn't be a simple yes or no vote. I personally think the death penalty should be reinstated for the worst crimes, but only where evidence is absolutely incontrovertible. In the absence of the death penalty, life must mean life when it comes to sentencing.