According to the NatCen British Social Attitudes Survey, supporters of the death penalty – at 48 per cent – are a minority for the first time.
Abroad, 85 per cent of Japanese people in 2010, 63 per cent in the USA in 2014 and 52 per cent of Russians also in 2014 favoured the death penalty.
Only 45 per cent in France in 2007 and 29 per cent of Finns in 2006 were so minded.
Source: Barometer, Spectator, 4 April 2015.