Capital Punishment

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 July 1979.

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Photo of Mr Edward Gardner Mr Edward Gardner , South Fylde 12:00, 19 July 1979

I agree entirely with the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Small Heath (Mr. Howell) about the need to justify with reason the point of view that one may hold about the way in which the vote on this motion should go. It is a matter of personal conscience, experience and judgment as well as of national importance.

I have three reasons for wishing to see the reintroduction of capital punishment for certain kinds of murder. The first is that the alternative sentence available for murder is in many cases hopelessly and dangerously inadequate. The second is one that I believe to be held in common by the greater part of the British public. I have the liveliest fear that without capital punishment the appalling rise in the use of guns by professional criminals will not stop but will continue. Thirdly, without capital punishment the need for an armed police force in Britain will be inevitable.