4 August 2026

There has been a recent YouGov Poll about meting out punishments for various offences. Two things surprised me. Firstly, the survey contained questions about flogging and putting people in the stocks which  was most recently seen at funfairs with people throwing sponges at local celebrities.

Secondly, the survey also asked people about their attitudes to capital punishment. Although there has been no-one hanged for murder in the UK since 1964, 42% of the public thought that  the death penalty was the most appropriate form of punishment for murder.

It isn’t sufficient to bring it back. However, 82% of Reform voters and 67% of Conservative voters support the reinstatement of the death penalty. 35% of Labour voters, 30% Lib Dems and 26% Greens also supported it! Beware of where your voting preferences  might lead you!

In the same week, three Anglican bishops wrote to Mohammed bin Salman, the ruler of Saudi Arabia, urging him to call a halt to the executions of more than fifty Ethiopian Christians currently on death row in that state. Some detainees have been taken to court and summarily executed without families being informed.

‘The open expression of Christian belief has reportedly been discouraged or prohibited within the prison and prisoners have been expected not to display Christian religious symbols or make reference to their faith in court.’ wrote the bishops. ‘This treatment is deeply troubling.’

The Old Testament law of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth has been superseded by the New Testament gospel of forgiveness and grace. It is the power of God’s unconditional love for everyone which will ultimately transform the world, abolish these destructive impulses, respect the divine image  and bring peace on earth.