Move to bring back hanging crushed

THE MAJORITY against the reintroduction of capital punishment was increased in the Commons last night as the Prime Minister led MPs in rejecting the return of the death penalty, writes Colin Brown.

John Major joined most of the Cabinet and Labour's MPs in the division lobby to reject hanging so decisively that it is unlikely to be debated again in this Parliament.

Capital punishment for the murder of a police officer during the execution of his duty was defeated by 383 votes to 186 - a majority of 197. In 1990, the last time it was debated, the majority was 135.

The death penalty for all categories of murder was rejected by 403 to 159 - a majority of 244. That compared with a majority of 185 in 1990.

Three Cabinet ministers voted in favour of hanging: John Redwood, the Secretary of State for Wales; Ian Lang, Secretary of State for Scotland; and David Hunt, the Secretary of State for Employment, who switched sides in the second division. Sir Norman Fowler, the Conservative Party chairman, and 26 ministers also backed a return to the death penalty.

It was the fourteenth time hanging had been debated since 1965.

How MPs voted, page 7