Capital Punishment

What bothers me is that the last hangings took place in 1964 and finally hanging was abolished in 1969. Why would any politician think to revisit this in 2023?

There are many more important current problems facing us so to me, it shows a lack of political judgment.

Chocolatelovinggran

Farzanah, that was the case in the past, I believe. More recent surveys suggest that most people, now, are opposed to the death penalty.

That’s interesting Chocolate.
The YouGov poll I saw 2022 found
40% support DP
50% opposed
10% unsure

Tory voters 50% support
34% opposed
Labour 23% support
62% against

Over 65s
54% support 22% against

There is a clear majority in support of DP for certain murders. Murder of a child. Terrorism Act and multiple murder.

There used to be debates in Parliament about whether to restore the death penalty.
I believe it never got as far as a referendum (the House was so clearly against it)
I think thank goodness. The public may very well vote to have it again .

Farzanah

The consensus of views so far is interesting. It’s a common belief that if there was a referendum on Capital Punishment the majority would vote for reinstatement!

They're likely to be the same people who voted for Brexit - old, Northern, less well-educated, in the main.

Yes, I think there is a place for the death penalty.
Only in the very extreme cases, but I would support it.

I am really undecided on this, although, if there was a referendum on the death penalty, I feel the views expressed here will be the minority.
I think people would vote to bring it back.
I add the above is just my opinion.

I thought that a whole life sentence was just that. Does not mean that the rest of that life is spent incarcerated, they may come out, but on very controlled and strict licence -which will remain in force for the rest of their lives.

Totally opposed to death sentence. It is barbaric. The thought just crossed my mind what if those convicted were allowed to choose assisted dying, then I thought again but there would be no punishment and who would want to administer this to a healthy person. No we have to stick with jail.

In 2020/21, the average cost of a prison place in England and Wales was 48,162 British pounds a year, compared with 44,640 British pounds in the previous reporting year. Since 2015/16, the annual cost of one prison place in England and Wales has increased by almost 13,000 British pounds.

I think there are only very, very few who are or have served the rest of their life in prison.

A life sentence now seems to be around 15 years.

Riverwalk

Farzanah

The consensus of views so far is interesting. It’s a common belief that if there was a referendum on Capital Punishment the majority would vote for reinstatement!

They're likely to be the same people who voted for Brexit - old, Northern, less well-educated, in the main.

I must be the exception that proves your rule Riverwalk!
🤣

Urmstongran

Riverwalk

Farzanah

The consensus of views so far is interesting. It’s a common belief that if there was a referendum on Capital Punishment the majority would vote for reinstatement!

They're likely to be the same people who voted for Brexit - old, Northern, less well-educated, in the main.

I must be the exception that proves your rule Riverwalk!
🤣

Urmst I did say, in the main!

I'm sure you're the honourable exception

Urmstongran

Riverwalk

Farzanah

The consensus of views so far is interesting. It’s a common belief that if there was a referendum on Capital Punishment the majority would vote for reinstatement!

They're likely to be the same people who voted for Brexit - old, Northern, less well-educated, in the main.

I must be the exception that proves your rule Riverwalk!
🤣

I was going to say "That's you told, Urms!" 😂

The claim that capital punishment prevents re-offending is banal and does not address the cases in which mistakes led to innocent people being executed. Typical barbaric step back in time from a Tory appealing to the worst mass instincts. Ought to be sacked. Sunak has already said it's not on.

😊😊

Urmstongran

Definitely not.

Loss of liberty for life ought to be a real punishment. I do think we are too soft on killers. Look at Myra Hindley - conducting a lesbian relationship in prison for example. Other examples are available but you all know what I’m getting at. Prison needs to be a very tough deterrent and voters know it isn’t. We read about drugs and mobile phones, games consoles etc and ask ourselves ‘who’s the daftest?’

This is why some people want the death penalty back.

Well said UG

I didn't think You could surprise me but you have.

I absolutely agree.

I’m old and northern. I didn’t vote Brexit and I’m opposed to the death penalty.

Prison, the loss of liberty is the punishment. Prisons aren’t holiday camps, they’re tough environments. I’m not sure how you’d have stopped Myra Hindley from lesbian affairs urmston. You can’t keep people in solitary for that reason , or for being a loathsome, manipulative (child murderer)

It's ok I have always found people from the south utterly lacking in critical thinking.

interesting that only two posters here would consider it, in some circumstances, and one of those is usa based, i believe.
in the past the population here in uk might have voted for it, but now, as there are fewer who remember it, i think the majority are against.
by the way, the latest research re derek bentley is less clear cut.

sorry, as you were. ageing brain, i meant hanratty.

I was listening to the Tom Swarbeck programme on LBC this afternoon.

Tom Swarbeck was at one time employed by the Conservative Party.

Someone phoned in and accused him and LBC of being so leftwing that people like him would never be allowed to say what they think.

He was then allowed by LBC to say what he thought which was that capital punishment should be brought back.

He backed up this statement by telling us that "everyone" agreed with him and he was part of the "silent majority" who were never allowed a voice on the lefty LBC.

Having listened to him I reflected on the fact that one characteristic of these far right opinionated people is that they really believe that "everyone" agrees with them.

Can this be true? How many people actually read "The Daily Exp[ress"?

I’m another old northerner totally against it.

When I was in my teens, I heard announcements of hangings on the radio news, and I used to say that in the future people would not believe that in our lifetimes people carried out such medieval punishments. Utterly barbaric.

For some cases, I say yes so do I Hithere.

Well said Urms. I take great exception to those comments Riverwalk. May I then assume you’re a Southern Softie?
Anyway, I’m off to find my flat cap and feed the whippets!

I think this post, from The Secret Barrister, sums up my opinion nicely and better than I can;

a political party which continues to produce and promote people who, whether through their own ignorance or for their own perceived political advantage, seek to exploit and inflame the worst nature of their least informed constituents, should be nowhere near government

30p Lee is such a person.