By IANS,
London : Indian-origin British MP Priti Patel has said she supports a “serious debate” in parliament for the return of capital punishment in Britain.
An opinion poll in the country showed nearly two-thirds of adults want murderers to be executed, says the Daily Express.
The survey by Angus Reid, a public opinion and research company, found 65 percent of adults quizzed were in favour of capital punishment while only 28 percent were opposed to the idea.
Around three-quarters of voters (78 percent) want parliament to debate the return of capital punishment.
Priti Patel, Tory MP for Witham in Essex, said: “I’m not surprised there is such overwhelming support for the return of capital punishment. We need a serious debate about this issue in Parliament, it is long overdue.”
More than 17,000 people have also signed an e-petition on government website direct.gov.uk, calling for a review of Britain’s membership of international treaties which outlaw the death penalty.
Under the rules of the e-petition system, the government will have to consider holding a debate if the total exceeds 100,000 people.
The issue of capital punishment was last debated in the House of Commons in 1998, when MPs rejected the call for restoration of the death penalty.
Prime Minister David Cameron is opposed to bringing back capital punishment.
The last hangings in Britain were carried out in 1964.