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Hanging in the Balance: A History of the Abolition of Capital Punishment in Britain

Hanging in the Balance: A History of the Abolition of Capital Punishment in Britain

by Brian P Block (Author), Brian P Block (Author), John Hostettler (Author)

  • New

    Hardcover 1997

    $26.86
Synopsis

Hanging in the Balance traces the history of capital punishment in the United Kingdom from ancient times to the modern day-through periods of reform until hanging for murder was finally abolished by Parliament in 1969. It describes in detail the Parliamentary and public debates, and notes the stance taken by organizations and individuals (including the tenacious and persistent Sydney Silverman MP). The book collates data and references not previously brought together in one place - and in exploring the underlying issues and the recurring arguments about deterrence, retribution and expediency it provides an invaluable resource vis-a-vis the same debate in the many countries where capital punishment still exists. Lord Callaghan was home secretary at the time of abolition. His Foreword conveys how strong his personal feelings were concerning the death penalty from the time he entered Parliament in 1945. The book's closing chapters record how his insistence that abolition should become permanent ultimately overcame the still considerable opposition. Capital punishment was finally abolished in 1999 throughout the UK. For all practical purposes this had already happened in 1969 when the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 was made fully effective into following a trial period. 'A masterwork': Justice of the Peace

$26.86

Quantity

10 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 288
 Edition: 1
 Publisher: Waterside Press
Published: 30 Sep 1997
ISBN 10: 1872870473
ISBN 13: 9781872870472

Media Reviews
'A masterwork':Justice of the PeaceFormer prime minister Lord Callaghan makes the following remarks in Hanging in the Balance:'The undoubted hero of the campaign was Sydney Silverman [MP]-small in stature, uptilted head, erect carriage, a quick pattering footstep and a prominent pointed beard which was almost a weapon in itself. In the Commons he always perched himself (perched is the word) on the corner seat just below the gangway adjoining the Government Front Bench, his feet hardly touching the ground. From that advantageous position he was always ready to jump to his feet at any moment. He was fearless in the face of hostility, of which there was plenty, and coupled this with great skill as a Parliamentarian and with considerable legal knowledge and practical experience, brought from his profession as a solicitor. He carried a formidable armoury that convinced many of us just back from the war in the late 1940s that hanging should go. I cannot say that until then, hanging had impinged on my thinking, and it was only when I reached Parliament in 1945 and was confronted by the need to take a position, that I concluded that hanging should be abolished. In the debates of 1948, I voted for abolition for the first time and after that decision, did so steadily thereafter, whenever the issue came before the House.'Lord Callaghan also indicates that '... it should not be forgotten that there are men who would have been hanged although they are innocent, but who are alive today because the law was changed. Members of Parliament show themselves to be only too aware of this and it is not surprising that whenever a proposal to reinstate hanging comes before Parliament, it has been rejected on every occasion by a large majority.' Capital punishment is in fact now unlikely ever to be reintroduced due to international obligations, the UK having ratified the Sixth Protocol to the European Convention On Human Rights which prohibits this form of punishment within the European Union.
Author Bio
Brian P Block and John Hostettler have written many books and articles on facets of law, lawyers, politics and social history. This is their third book as co-authors.