Two prominent Reform UK MPs, Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe, have called for the death penalty to be reinstated in the UK. Their remarks came after Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years. The sentencing judge said it was highly likely that Rudakubana would never be released.
“The Punishment Doesn’t Go Far Enough”
Despite the lengthy term, Anderson and Lowe argue the sentence is still too lenient. Both posted on social media shortly after the judge’s announcement:
- Anderson shared a picture of a noose, implying his endorsement of capital punishment.
- Lowe tweeted: “It is my opinion that now is the time for a national debate on the use of the death penalty in exceptional circumstances.”
The party’s chief whip later commented to The Express:
“This animal has no right to breathe the same air as the rest of us.”
A Practice Long Abolished
The UK’s last instance of capital punishment occurred in August 1964, when Gwynne Evans and Peter Allen were executed for murder. The following year, Parliament moved to suspend the death penalty across Great Britain for most crimes, excluding high treason, piracy with violence, arson in royal dockyards, and espionage. Eventually, with the introduction of the Human Rights Act in 1998, the death penalty was fully banned.
Public Opinion on Capital Punishment
While Anderson and Lowe might feel emboldened to call for a return to capital punishment, public sentiment is not entirely on their side. A 2022 YouGov poll revealed that 40% of people still support the death penalty, a drop from 51% in 2010. The debate remains polarising, with some arguing it’s a deterrent to extreme crimes, and others maintaining it’s an irreversible punishment prone to errors and miscarriages of justice.
Where Will This Debate Go?
For now, the demands from these Reform UK MPs suggest a renewed discussion on capital punishment—though there are no signs that mainstream parties are eager to revisit the subject. Whether or not Anderson and Lowe will gain traction for their cause remains to be seen.
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